"Wouldn't it be nice if life were like a DVD..."
As most of you know Marilyn was in a terrible
accident ten days ago. She has broken the three main bones
in her leg connecting to the ankle. Needless to say she has
been in a lot of pain and mostly bedridden. She will
probably be unable to walk until Christmas. We thank you
for your cards, prayers, and concerns they help to keep us
going. One of the cards she received last week had a
picture of Linus, Snoppy, and Woodstock sitting
comfortably in their chair looking at a TV. The outside of
the cards says "Wouldn't it be nice if life were like a
DVD... and when you open up the card it leaves you with
this thought: "And you could fast-forward through
crummy times! "
We all have "crummy times" in our life. Those times we
would rather fast-forward past and get along with the
enjoyable times. Those times we would rather not endure.
The times that come at us unexpectedly. The times when
we want to say "no, that's enough!" Well we all know that
the crummy times do pass -- maybe not as quickly as we
would like -- but they do pass. And we even may learn
some things during that time.
Have you ever sat in an operating waiting room. You
can cut the tension with a knife it is so thick as concerned
family members wait to hear that their loved one has gotten
through surgery. What also seems to happen in those
waiting rooms is that total strangers start caring for one
another. They celebrate when someone gets good news.
They bring an extra cup of coffee when another person has
to wait longer than they thought. They talk to one another
and really listen because they're in the same boat. Barriers of
age, color, gender, socio-economic status seem to melt
away as one human being reaches out to another human
being.
Another thing that seems to happen in those waiting
rooms is how God is so important to each one present.
Prayers are raised -- "God do for my loved one what I cannot
do." Promises are made -- "If you get Joe through this
surgery I will cherish him forever."
Even the most unreligious person can be heard to call on
God in times of trouble. People come to realize how
important God is in times of difficulty and hopefully then
in good times as recovery is made and life goes back to
normal. Ours is not a God who is just there when times are
"crummy" but can be found in the ordinary days when life
is just ordinary .In those waiting rooms we learn to let go
and let God and come to understand that we can't control
everything in life. That "crummy" times will come but
God is right beside us giving us what we need to get
through.
We can't fast-forward the crummy times, but we can
be there for others and allow them to be there for us when
the crummy times are happening. The neighbor who sent
this card also came over with stuffed peppers for dinner
yesterday and a stack of movies to watch. A good friend
comes and stays with Sarah while I spend the nights at the
hospital. Person upon person say's I'm praying for you.
Others call and offer a listening ear. And in all that care
and compassion God is to be found. We discover that God
really does come to us through the lives and actions of
others. And when we are in the position to do the giving
we understand what it means to be a servant of one another .
That in the end the best we have to offer to one another is
our presence, our compassion, our concern that we are not
in this alone. No matter what our "crummy times" may be
God's touch and the presence of God in one another will get
us to the other side. It is God's power and healing lived out
in those around us that eventually bring hope and healing.
And so if you are in one of those "crummy" times
right now know that you are not alone. God's presence in
every faithful -- no matter how bad it feels, no matters how
dismal the road ahead seems. Realize that God's presence
comes to you through the people and situations that
confront you every day. And I would challenge you to look
around and see who's in a " crummy" time and needs your
help. A phone call, a cup of coffee, a listening ear , a word
of compassion, and action that says "I care" can mean the
world to one of our fellow travelers.
