Getting Better

14 The human spirit will endure sickness;
    but a broken spirit—who can bear?- Proverbs 18:14

I’m sorry I missed posting last week, but I've had the flu.  I’m still not at one hundred percent, but I am at least fairly certain I'll survive.  Of course, I was fairly sure of that at the onset (even though I think I prayed for death once or twice!). That knowledge, that in a week to ten days I would be healthy again, helped me to get through the toughest part of being sick.  I would envision myself two weeks in the future taking a hike in the gorgeous spring weather and life was worth fighting for once again.

Our lives are much the same. We are living life well, and along comes an ugly flu… a job loss, the death of a loved one, a scary diagnosis, a broken relationship. Unlike the actual flu, we can’t always predict when it will be over or what the result is likely to be.  And this is where faith comes in.  That faith gives us the knowledge that no matter what happens, it is all going to be fine.  Even death does not have the final say. Our anxiety comes in wanting to know when and how everything will work out.  We are not good at waiting!

The world as a whole follows the same pattern.  We live in wonder at the beauty of creation and life and love.  But there is an ugly flu out there we have labeled, “evil.” It is the disease that tries to destroy the beauty.  It is the fuel behind the worst of the world’s atrocities. But we are promised that even this sickness will one day pass.  We can even participate in its coming!  Each time we say “no” to hate, each time we answer a harsh word with kindness, each time we forgive without being offered an apology…we bring that day a little closer.

Have faith!  No matter what happens, it really is going to be fine and with each act of love we will help that fine day arrive as God’s kingdom on earth.

Holy God,
We all struggle with some kind of “flu.” Give us faith to look ahead and to live as though we are already there.  Amen.