Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Last weekend, it was my privilege to become reacquainted with a seldom-seen, long-time friend. He roared into our little city on his Kawasaki and attended Sunday morning worship at our church. Over lunch, we rehashed long-past events, and he recounted some of his many motorcycle excursions. From the magus of his wit and wisdom, he said, “Isn’t it strange that we drive on the parkway and park on the driveway?” A seeming conflict in terminology, but not unlike many of life’s experiences.
In my youth, I would sometimes hear preachers say, “Duties never conflict.” I believed that…for awhile. I’ve noticed in myself (though others bear witness) that a lot of life is conflicted. Often, I say that, no matter where I am, I always feel I should be somewhere else. Ditto for activities. Now, I realize this may be a part of my nature, but it seems to have commonality. If that weren’t enough, I sometimes think I’m failing on all fronts. What is the appropriate action, have I done too much or too little and did I make the right choice?
Many of my thoughts go unexpressed, but, under the influence of God, the biblical writers bared their souls for all to see. Job, Abraham, Moses, David, Solomon, all the prophets and right on down to Paul in the New Testament expressed anguish at the confusion of life, the discerning of God’s will and the futility of human efforts toward righteousness and against sin. Nothing is happening to us today that has not happened to people of all times. And we can, by observation, learn from them. They knew what we know. Do we know what they knew?
Perhaps, confusion in this life has a purpose. The negative experiences of living are meant to draw us to God. Many Bible references support this idea. In Him, we find peace and direction, though not absence of conflict. Smooth sailing is not the hallmark of a good life. God knows this, and we need to learn it. Believers of all time have struggled with complexity. Those who do best remain faithful to God and increase fidelity in difficult circumstances. You will make mistakes, but God never does. His eternal (not temporal) plan is for your good. Happy sailing.
Sterl
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