I love the story of Joseph in the Old Testament. I remember Mom reading to me out of one of those picture Bible Books when I was little. I was always fascinated by Joseph's life. He gets thrown into a big hole for no good reason, sold away from home and family, then elevated to a prestigious position in Egypt. His boss's wife lies to her husband and Joseph gets thrown in jail. Somewhere along the line, he interprets dreams - even Pharaoh's dream, and eventually becomes the number 2 man in all of Egypt - the most powerful nation in the world at that time. I'm sure Joseph looked back and had absolutely no explanation as to why or how the events of his life unfolded, but he was thankful for the experiences - even the painful ones.
I was watching the Simpson's yesterday and Marge gets in trouble and has to go to anger management classes for her newfound disease: Road Rage. Chief Wiggum is directing the class and starts out by saying this, "So, we're going to break you down to the level of infants, then build you back up to respectable members of society. Then, after lunch, we'll break you down again and if we have time we'll build you back up."
Life feels like this sometimes, whether by our decisions, or by what seems to be God's design for our lives. Up, then back down; great stuff happening, with evil hot on our heels.
I was on my way to work out one day about a month ago. I had every intention as I set out on my journey to go to Cardinal Fitness, but at the last moment, I decided that it was such a beautiful day and that it would be tragic to waste it. I turned into a park about 200 yards from my house. I parked in the parking lot, left the keys in the car, and started out on a run. The track is right next to the cars as you start out but circles away. It's not a very big park and it wasn't a very long track - probably 1/4 mile.
About 5 minutes into my run a Dodge Ram pulled in right beside my car. I was a little annoyed because there was a big parking lot - no need to park right beside me. About 5 minutes later a Green Jeep Cherokee parked right next to the Dodge Ram. A man and woman met in the Dodge Ram and were looking at something in the back of the truck. I started feeling a little funny, but thought that I needed to finish my run. On my last lap, as I turned the corner, I saw my car driving away. I ran as fast as I could with my arms in the air, but they were gone. They left the Dodge Ram, but that truck was stolen as well. They got my car, my cell phone, my wallet, and my new watch. OUCH!!
I told some people in my church and the Body of Christ began to show how beautiful she can be when she does what she's supposed to do. My church provided money and a new car. Well, not exactly new, but new to me. She is actually a '91 Oldsmobile Cutlass Cruiser Station Wagon and I am happier than I ever was with the Hyundai Elantra. I mean that.
Evil turned to good in a matter of two weeks. God does it all the time. In fact, it's been my experience that this is the consistent pattern of God's work in His children's lives. Through death, troubles, bad decisions on the part of family members, spouses, or friends, whatever - God takes ashes and makes them beautiful. He takes evil and turns it into good. He takes dry bones and clothes them with flesh and skin and tells them to walk again for His good purposes and plans. Job, Joseph, David, Peter, Clint Reed, you. It happens all the time and it's all part of the beautiful picture that God is painting and will continue to paint for eternity. I believe we will look back on our lives one day and have gratitude in our hearts for the things that have happened, are happening, and will happen - even the painful ones. Without the painful ones, we might not be the people God wants us to be.
"Safe, who said anything about being safe. Of course He's not safe...but He's good."
- Mr. Beaver about Aslan in C.S. Lewis's The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe
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