DO OVERS

Sometimes, I find myself wishing I could turn the clock back, just a few seconds, to make one different move, be just a tiny bit more careful on that roof to avoid that fall that drastically changed everything that I had planned.

So many big, bad things that happened in my life could all be taken down to a moment in time, where, if I had made one slightly different move, all the pain of the consequences could have been avoided.

I remember an Adam Sandler movie from a while back called “Click.” I can’t remember a lot, but I know he had some kind of remote control clicker that could fast forward all the uncomfortable, painful times in his life.

Seems like a wonderful thing, right?

It was one of the saddest movies I have ever seen. (I won’t ruin it; but you ought to to watch it.)

But, if we could turn back time, we wouldn’t just change the bad stuff, we would change all the good stuff that came as a result of the bad stuff.

When I fell, I, surprisingly, didn’t feel afraid, stressed, or worried.

I knew that work would stop for a while.

But I thought about the scripture that I had told my Sunday School class to think about this week:

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…”(psalm 37)

God can see it all. He is never surprised. He knows the future just as well as he knows the past.

He lays my paths out for me, and causes me to walk down them…because of his great love…and his desire to continue to mold me into the image of his son.

If I had turned back the clock, I would have missed meeting all the people at the hospital who daily do their acts of compassion for those hurt and suffering ones who are delivered to them.

The text from my friend that had prayed for me the morning would have had little impact on me.

The gift of a meal and a mowed lawn from the Willard family would never have been received.

The overwhelming love and care of my wife when I can be of so little help, I would have missed…such a great display of the love we call “agape”.

You see, the pain is real, but pain brings my world into sharper focus.

I received so much from all the people I have engaged with in these last few days…

But they received something , too…

The grace of our God pours through them, to give, to share, to love…

to know his pleasure as they obey his call.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1Thessalonians 5:18

All circumstances .

Even pain.

Thank you, Jesus.