Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday June 15, 2006

I never know just where I will get an idea that goes along with the scripture I happen to be chewing on at a particular time. I like to get a quote, story or illustration that subtly drives home a truth, a truth that aids in the daily living of life.

Strangely enough, these gems come from unusual, often weird sources. Such is today's from Garrison Keillor:

"Life is tough. If you should feel happy be patient, this will pass."

Lake Wobegon's most famous son was telling how the folks of his youth would teach the young that depression was the norm and if you should suddenly, unexpectedly discover that you were actually feeling light and happy, your job was to just hang in there as this worked up feeling would soon give way to the normalcy of the overcast hue of life in the tiny burg by the lake.

One of the beauties of the scripture is its telling it like it is and life is a series of ebb and flow, like the tides. When we learn that it is natural, even supernatural if you accept the account of creation, which I do, you can more readily deal with the tides of life. I know about the storm surges of life as I'm sure you do too. The storm surges are special times sent by the Lord as in the case of Job to demonstrate to us and to the ones who are watching that come what may, God is all that He says He is and in His time, the surge will pass and we will come forth as gold. Job 23:10.

The truth in Job's life and in ours is that while it is true we are not the same after a severe life storm surge, we are different and whether the difference is positive or negative is up to us. When you suffer apparent loss you have to learn that loss is only apparent as the Lord has taken way that He might add to us.

In spite of what clergypersons used to refer to as the 'vicissitudes' (changes) of life, Christ and the entirety of biblical teaching insists that life can be one where joy is the norm and the unhappiness so many associate with life the sub or abnormal. But then I have never even visited Lake Wobegon let alone lived in such a place; so what do I know? I know Daniel did okay in the Lion's den and Paul and Silas reputedly shook down the Philippian Jail while singing Amazing Grace.

I have never met Garrison Keillor, so I don't know whether I like him or not. To be honest I have met a lot of people I do not like, so I just leave the Keillor issue on the table and wait and see.

Do you think Mr. Keillor may have been using his statement, "Life is tough. If you should feel happy be patient, this will pass." to cause the rest of us mortals to see the absurdity of the morose life?

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2006 Use with credit

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