May 6

Some Good News Would Be Nice

Certainly, not everything in my world is bad. There remains much to celebrate. Yet, I also find myself in a season of hearing and receiving what seems like an endless string of bad news.

Juneau is Juneau, our economy is faltering, and several departures are immanent. Those leaving us are dearly beloved. Their exits will represent relational loss. And these exits will expose new gaps in our church and mission life.

Discouragement, for me, is metaphorically seen in the storm clouds always on the horizon, if not overhead. With this, I have found myself praying more than usual. Because I need to be reminded of what is lasting and real behind the temporary storm clouds.

The Puritans had a phrase: "Pray until you've prayed." I am learning this in these days. Desperation will do that. My present "prayer list" looks less like a linear ledger, and more like a data cloud.

I pray because I need to be reminded. What I see, feel, experience I know is not lasting. There is a blessed reality beyond my capacity to see.

Faith, by definition, is seeing (and believing) what one cannot see. So I pray, and I ask, and I wait. So what exactly am I gaining in return? A needful reality check.

Jesus came to us, outside of the circles of power. He died for us outside the city walls. Jesus was not recognized by the wisdom of the day; but He came to be wisdom for us. Jesus, who knew rejection purchased acceptance for us.

Jesus, who knew hunger, came to be our Bread of Life. He who had no home came to secure for us our heavenly inheritance. Jesus was forsaken, so we would never be forsaken. Jesus came, died and lives again so he could establish his rightful throne in our hearts.

In the throes of discouragement my heart can easily become too familiar with the miracle of the incarnation. While a "professional", I too can fail to recognize and rest in the reality of the gospel.

So I am approaching my days in prayerful pursuit. I have no option, no other strategy. I need to see and be reminded again of the reality behind the storm clouds.

And some good news would be nice.