Living Inside the Mystery

     You know how sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can't explain some things?  When I was diagnosed with cancer a few years ago, people said some pretty crazy stuff and asked some pretty crazy questions.  Some people didn't know what to say and stayed away.  One question I got asked a lot was "Why do you suppose you got cancer?"  My response was "Why not me?"  It was hard for me to explain to people why I didn't feel like I should be immune to a life threatening illness.  My relationship with Christ and the incredible family and friends he blessed me with are what helped me make it through.  I remember a few friends being upset because I wasn't healed like they thought I should have been.  We prayed; it should have happened...right?  It was hard for me to explain how I saw things: God is God and will remain God regardless of what happens.  His character never changes.  His love for me never changes. 
     A few weeks ago I was reading a fiction book, Canary Island Song,  by Robin Jones Gunn.  One of the characters, a one time, self-avowed "hard-core agnostic," described his salvation experience as "having to be willing to live inside the mystery." His explanation is such a nail-on-the-head description of simple faith.  With the author's permission (Thanks, Robin!), here's the quote by Bryan on page 180 of Canary Island Song:

"Some things in life will never make sense.  They won't be made right or explained.  at least in our lifetime.  They float around in a swirl of mystery.  I wanted God to explain all that mystery to me before I agreed to trust him.  But I discovered it doesn't work that way.  He is God, and he doesn't have to explain anything.  When I understood that, then I could surrender to Christ and step inside the mystery instead of stand back and resist."

    What a powerful faith statement from a fictional character.  Proof of how God uses the talents of people like Robin to minister. 
     During the past few weeks I've been constantly reminded of the importance of being willing to live inside the mystery.  How hard do you suppose it was for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be willing to live inside the mystery to the point of saying, "Our God is able to rescue us, but even if he doesn't we won't bow" and trust God with their fate? (Dainel 3)  I love how Ray Stedman put it in Adventuring through the Bible, "God is at work in human affairs, and anyone who sees beyond the visible to the invisible and acts accordingly will find that God provides all the strength and support that is required for success."
     Do you have any opportunities to live inside the mystery?  I recently ran across a quote by Corrie Ten Boom that sums up this post nicely:

"When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off.  You sit still and trust the engineer."

     Let's trust the Engineer!

From Last Year...Still True

Jesus is the Alpha, the Omega and the Nu
From Asbury Tidings, January 2010:

William D. Watley, Senior Pastor at the St. James Aftican Methodist Church, provides encouragement in the realization and truth of Jesus as the ultimate connection:

"You are connected to somebody who is not only the Alpha and Omega, but the Nu as well. Alpha and Omega are the first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet; nu is the middle letter. Thus, Jesus is not only the somebody who will be with us in the beginning, when we're born and at the end when death comes. He abides with us in all that is between...in the middle. In the middle, when temptation comes to turn us around. In the middle, when Satan attacks to dismantle and destroy. In the middle, when friends become few. In the middle, when resources run short. In the middle, when the unexpected shakes the foundations of our lives. In the middle, when relationships are severed. Yes, in the middle. Therefore, we can continue to abide in Jesus. He is sufficient for whatever comes between our beginning and our ending."

Wow...What a great reminder of who Christ is and that in the things I can't handle (which are a bunch) we...Jesus and I...can handle together. Starting the New Year with promise!

Great Advice from Mother Teresa

     I love quotes.  Many times I just surf the web when I'm trying to say something and find some great nuggets of wisdom.  I have encouraging quotes posted all around my classroom.  One of my favorite people to quote is Mother Teresa.  Here is one of her quotes that is great to reflect on as we start this year:

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, People may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, They may be jealous; Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.
                                                                                                             -Mother Teresa