The opening line of Charles Dickens' famous novel The Tale of Two Citiesuses the oft quoted line, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...", to capture a sense of the times and seasons in London and Paris during the French Revolution. It was a time of great upheaval and violent change. In many ways, it was similar to our own times. In some ways and places, times have never been better, while in other ways and places, times have never been worse.
Personally, and in the life of our church these statements are also true. Larry Brice, a
great champion of the faith, our Associate Pastor and my best friend, is battling for his life against colon cancer. Concurrently, our church family moves forward to build a new facility to glorify God and serve the people of the Columbia Basin. God is blessing our lives in unprecedented ways, while we grapple with some of the greatest
challenges our family and church have ever faced.
challenges our family and church have ever faced.
These times are designed by God to produce hardy saints of us all. The truth is, our predecessors, that "great cloud of witnesses" spoken of by the writer of Hebrews, faced their own "Best and Worst of Times." The history of the church is the redemption story of glory, power, healing, salvation, miracles, restoration AND martyrdom, suffering, loss, rejection, disappointment, and failure. Always, the two
seemingly contradictory tracks were running parallel to one another. Even the glorious book of Acts, that theme section of the Scriptures for Charismatics, reads like a roller coaster ride of paradoxes and life and death drama.
Redemption is the story of God in the midst of sin, death, suffering, sickness etc... Some day, everything will be swallowed up in the life, beauty, and presence of redemption Himself. Until that great day arrives, this train must run on both tracks, and we must ride it!
In the book Moloka'i (a semi-fictional book based on a true story of the leper colony of Molokai)a character says,
ReplyDelete"How we choose to live with pain, or injustice, or even death is the true measure of the divine within us."
I couldn't agree more. Hang in there, Doug!
Love,
Rose
Thanks Rose, it was good to get a little feedback.
ReplyDeletePain and suffering are hard teachers, and I'm not sure I want to sign up for their classes. Unfortunately, their classes are NOT electives, but required general ed for all who "live down here".
Blessings,
Doug
Wow, How true this is. What a powerful statement at the end and how true. Thank you for the updates and always look forward to great writings on your blog. :)
ReplyDeleteSee ya,
Riding one track or the other always leads to imbalance. Fear makes us cling nostalgically to the past and becoming grasping of the future. A life flooded with love leaves no room for fear, doubt, or hestitation. Love is what marries the best of times and the worst of times. When a life loves so completely that he forgets to wonder or question whether he is loved in return; when he only knows that he is loving and moving down the tracks - then he can move smoothly, balanced and bridging the 2 seemlessly. Joy comes. The joy is not simply in the bridging but in the participation - livng the moment - the same in it's pattern but swift and free!!
ReplyDeleteI have so little faith in the ebb and flow of good and bad. Grasping at the good, afraid that as it eases out that it will never return and afraid the tide will bring hard times - my heart has yet to learn that there is life and love in the wake of the ebb. I still wonder if I am doing something wrong; if I am loved in return. I have yet to learn to ride both rails with abandonment to the Love that set me on these tracks.
Then if it's a train we must ride, then I shall,with two hands hanging on. And when the time comes for my departing from this world into His glorious Kingdom-I shall skid in side ways screaming
ReplyDelete"WOO HOO" what a ride" Shelly Svilar
I guess you have to figure the most unfair life ever lived on planet earth was Christ himself. If EVER there was a man who didn't deserve to die...it was most certainly him. Talk about accused, sentenced, and put to death, for a crime he didn't commit!
ReplyDeleteAnd then of course he says, "...If they hated me, they will hate you as well." I long for a 'fair' life, and long even more so (for people like Larry) for others to have a 'fair' life because they deserve it more than me. And yet...oftentimes it is sooo unfair.
But truly, how can we expect anything better from this planet than Christ himself received? It's a crapshoot. One minute you're spreading the gospel in the streets of Romania and the next minute you're spending (14) years in a Communist Prison for getting caught (see Richard Wurmbrand).
Truly we can't, "...become tired of doing good because we'll reap our just reward." Problem is, that reward doesn't always come instantly for the here and now. Hebrews says Christ, "...learned obedience through his suffering." And we're supposed to be partakers and fellowship in those sufferings. But like you, I'm not always so willing to sign up for those 'classes'.
What's more...real faith, FIDELITY, lasting faith really only seems to grow and foster in suffering. And apparently this seems to be the most desirable attribute we can give to God, yet who the heck wants to suffer so they can offer a better 'faith' to God? I say, "Man I'd love to have my name added to the 'Great Hall of Faith' in Hebrews, but the road I'd have to take to get there is paved with being 'sawed in two' or being 'boiled in oil'.
My wife has suffered for years and years with some sort of weird joint swelling to were she can hardly even walk some days. We finally found a specialist who figured it out, and last week he is killed by a drunk driver. What a waste...how unfair. He could have helped so many other people with his gifts and talents and he's snuffed out by some self-absorbed alcoholic who cares only about themselves. Just doesn't make sense to me.
Bottom line: You're right Doug. If you live on planet earth you have JOY and SUFFERING. But you have BOTH. It rains on the just and the unjust...it will never change until it's all absorbed in the glory of Christ.
Miss ya Bro,
Marc
P.S.
ReplyDeleteSorry for the length! ;o)
well written Doug...
ReplyDelete