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THURSDAY THOUGHT 8/21/08

Faith Amid Setbacks
 
I have a friend who died several years back.  Les had MS and died a painfully slow, creeping death by paralysis.  From a vibrant, fun-loving member of the community, with a wife and children, he ended up confined to a nursing home bed — money, marriage and community reputation gone, and only one of the two daughters and a few friends who visited him.
 
He was a good man who never gave up hope or faith.  Curious myself as to the “why” (the God why, not the medical why) of his condition, I recommended that we read the Book of Job.  It was a challenging read that covered several weeks of visits.  It left me a bit sad, but it strengthened Les, and he would listen intently as the arguments were raised and knocked down.  At the conclusion, he nodded quiet agreement as if to say, “question answered.” 
 
I guess it’s not our concern to understand God’s business, and that is the answer.  Our concern — if we do in fact believe in God — is to try to follow His way, no excuses, and leave the rest in His hands.  Sure, easier said than done, but do we have anything else more important to do?  So, enjoy the gifts of this day — both obvious and not so apparent — and leave the “why” in God’s hands. — jri
 
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”
            –    Job
                   (Job 1:21)