“There is always a road back. If we have the courage to look for it, and take it. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I don't know. I need help. These are the signposts. The cardinal directions.”
― Louise Penny
1 SAMUEL 19-21
LUKE 15:11-32
17“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
JOURNAL
Here we find David running scared, the great warrior who has had immense success is reduced to a lying fool. It is a great reminder that any of us...no matter our accomplishments, honors, can be reduced to loser status. How can this happen? It would seem that David's ticket is punched...I mean he killed Goliath, has become a famous warrior, is best friends with King Saul's son, is married to his Daughter, he in every way seems to have it all and yet here he is lying, running scared and acting like a madman in philistine territory no less.
Success in this world is a tricky business, it often is here today and gone tomorrow. It can never be trusted and just when it seems someone has it made...disaster strikes. The opposite also happens, just when it appears someone is done for, the winds will change and success seems to come out of nowhere. That's why scripture is so important, it tells the stories and gives us examples so that no matter where we find ourselves in life...we have direction and hope to put our faith in God and God alone.
David blows it because the winds of fate turned against him. Saul wants to kill him and he reacts hastily and out of desperation. I'm sure he never imagined he would ever stoop to this level, just as Peter never imagined he would betray Jesus. I think that's why Jesus tells the story of the prodigal. The message is clear, we can never fully blow it, just as we can never fully make it. God is there always and he is our hope, no matter our success or failure it is God that makes it all good, it is God that takes the failures and transforms them into beauty and redemption.
That is precisely why longing for the "one day when" is so pointless. We never know and often getting what we think we want can create a greater nightmare than we ever possibly could have imagined. Just as what we imagine to be our worst nightmare can end up being the thing that brings untold blessings. Our best bet is to make the most of today and truly embrace each and every moment as a gift from God, not wishing it were different, but truly giving our very best with a grateful heart.
That is precisely why longing for the "one day when" is so pointless. We never know and often getting what we think we want can create a greater nightmare than we ever possibly could have imagined. Just as what we imagine to be our worst nightmare can end up being the thing that brings untold blessings. Our best bet is to make the most of today and truly embrace each and every moment as a gift from God, not wishing it were different, but truly giving our very best with a grateful heart.
19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
MATTHEW 6:19-21
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