Sometimes there's just not enough...
...not enough information...not enough fixers...not enough solutions...not enough time...
For instance, the 3-5 inches of snow, which unexpectedly fell on Metro Atlanta on a work/school day afternoon. Who knew? No human being knew in advance what would actually take place. The weather forecasters predicted all bad weather to fall on the southern most part of our state with probably no impact on Metro Atlanta whatsoever.
Even on Tuesday, as the forecast changed and some snow was possible in Metro Atlanta, no human being knew when the snow would begin or how much would fall or that people would flee their office buildings and end up stuck on highways for hours or that bus drivers wouldn't be able to finish getting students home. No one knew...until after it happened and hindsight IS 20/20.But here's the rub of truth, even if we knew the true weather scenario before it played out; we still couldn't have prevented 100% of all difficult situations from happening. And why should we expect to never encounter difficulty anyway? Isn't it through trials, we learn most heartily?
James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brother, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance, perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete not lacking anything.
God knew, and through the difficult circumstances, many people in Metro Atlanta have been able to see Him in the kindness of strangers. In selfless acts of caring for a person stranded in their car, out of gas, walking on an icy road or in need of a little food, water and shelter for the night; Jesus has shown His face, His Hands and Feet, and His Heart of compassion! Could that have happened if every annoyance were prevented in advance? I don't think so...
Yet, I couldn't help thinking, in the midst of all the chaos and finger pointing and blame for all the inconvenience, fear and frustration, which continues days later; what about the people who live outside daily - no home, barely a shelter, barely some food and water. What about the homeless who daily wonder, "What happened? How did I get here?" They already know the truth...sometimes bad things happen, and sometimes life's not fair, and sometimes there just isn't enough...
This is the Word of God from Isaiah 58:6-10
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: "Here Am I."
If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like noonday.
O Lord, I don't want to be a finger pointer or blamer. I want to be a well watered garden, a spring whose waters never fail. I want to be called a "Repairer of Broken Walls" and a "Restorer of Streets with Dwellings". (Isaiah 58:11-12) Change me, Lord, start with me, and in so doing change my community....our culture.
Lord, Jesus, You are enough - all I ever need no matter my circumstances. May I forever JOY in knowing that You know me, and delight in me as Your creation. To You Lord, Jesus, be all glory and honor and praise - forever, and ever...Amen!
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