It’s All Over
Well, it once again has been a while since my last post and I don’t know if anyone is even paying attention anymore. If you are, thanks for keeping up with the Cooleys. If no one reads this, I suppose it’s more just therapeutic for me anyway.
So everything is over now. The presidential election is over, our insurance repairs are over, and my wife reached her 30th birthday which means the curse of her 20s are over (I’m not being insulting here, she accounts that as a good thing). I’m thankful to no longer have to hear all the partisan rhetoric from TV commercials and so-called “debates”. I’m thankful to no longer have our living room and office cut off to us because of destruction, construction, sanding, staining, or painting. Admittedly, we do still have some painting to do and my darling wife and I would really like to continue the groove here and keep working on the house to do the things that we meant to do a year ago, but the crux of the work is done so there is no more contractor, no more waiting on insurance money, no more “i”s to dot or “t”s to cross. On top of that, my wife has successfully completed her tenure as a twenty-something and has moved into an age she has been looking forward to for some time. Her spirits are up, my spirits are up, and we are hoping things take a turn for the better (a bad economy and our usual income problems notwithstanding). Hopefully, things will start progressing in a very positive direction.
In the midst of everything, I find myself reflecting on how easy it is to complain and feel downtrodden. I’m actually realizing just how much I’ve been complaining in spite of things around me for which to be exceedingly grateful. I have a job. I have a home. I have a wonderful and loving family. I have a faithful, loving wife. I have a church that is willing to stand with us in our need. I have friends and family who are willing to do the same. There are lots of things to be thankful for but I still find reason to mope and be cynical. I think it goes back to the “you are what you eat” adage. You become what you behold. Negative attitudes breed negative outcomes somehow. In God’s economy, I guess this makes sense. We are told in Scripture to forget our needs and look to the needs of our neighbor. We are told to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be given to us. We are told not to fear, worry, or be anxious for our Father in Heaven cares for us and will meet our every need. And still we worry, fear, fret, complain, whine, argue, and otherwise make ourselves and everyone around us miserable; and usually simply because we are not in control and don’t get what we want when we want it. We are slackers…grumblers…whiners…discontents…in other words, Americans…
Oh, there I go being cynical again. But the truth is, we are often way too comfortable, way too demanding, expect way too much of each other and expect all the wrong things from God. God grant us the strength and wisdom to be the people He has called us to be. Not Americans, not Republicans, not whiners, not fretters, not doomsayers, not exaggeraters, and not judges. Rather, to be the meek, humble, loving, caring, encouraging, firm, faithful, joyous, generous, gregarious, never-say-die citizens of His kingdom that He calls us to be. The world is not going to end because of a few bad circumstances in our lives, because we are uncomfortable or have to work at getting good things, or even because Obama is going to be our next president. None of these things is going to prompt hand-wringing from God or Jesus’ return. They are just life happening on God’s green earth as usual and through it all we are called to trust and not doubt. God is orchestrating all things according to His plan, His purpose, and the sanctification of His people (and only He knows those who are His). We can rest in the assurance that when it’s all over, He is still sovereign and everything is going to be okay.
God grant us peace in that thought and the strength to pursue what is excellent and praiseworthy; not feed on depression and despair.