Quick Change

Day 21 Doxology:  How is the self quarantine going?  What seemed novel at first seemed to quickly fade.  However, I am happy to make this short investment for the future of many I will never know or meet.  I know that it won't last.  Which takes us to today's doxology.

Today was sunny at times but for the the most part cloudy.  We haven't had rain in a couple of days which has been a doxology in and of itself.  However, there was this one brief-very brief- period where the rain was extremely heavy.  I made me think about how quickly things can change.

With that marinating in the back of my mind, I made a trip to Publix.  While on Pepper Road when I came to the bridge I noticed the river was extremely high.  I had been out this morning to get gas and it was nothing like it was after the very brief rain.  Wow...how quickly things can change!

We've all heard about a family whose life was forever changed in a second.  They hear a son was killed in service or a family hears bankruptcy is certain.  Children hear their parents are getting a divorce.  Sons and daughters hear their mom has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Or, a parent gets a call from a police officer to inform them their child was in an accident.  It is our response to moments in life that defines us. Things can change so quickly.

But, here is the deal...if things can change in a moment in a negative way then why can't they change equally in a positive way.  We can affect our lives and the lives of those around us in a moments notice.  We can choose to stand up to a bully.  We could over-tip a waitress.  We could listen to someone's problem.  We could take groceries to a friend.  We could stop avoiding love and embrace it.  We could decide that addiction is not going to dictate the terms of our life.  We could choose Jesus as Lord.

I always loved the story of Joseph when he confronted the brothers that had sold him into slavery.  You might remember what he told them when they had discovered that it was their brother that was in this position of power to save everyone from the famine.  Remember?  He said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  To translate -What you intended for evil, God intended for good.   

Life is going to change, sometimes in a instance, but we can take the change that might seem like the rising river to irrigate the dry areas of our lives.  At the end of the day, I believe God wants us to see how we can use all things for the greater good...things can change so quickly.