I am a firm believer that most people don’t know what they want in life. They get it and it wasn’t what they expected and go on to something else. There are other who have a similar Spirit of Confussion. Have you ever known anyone who has a crisis everyday and the fault is always someone else.
I know too many people like this. I am related to some of them and good friends with others. The thing that I think we all miss in life is that we don’t give thanks enough. Not only for the good but the bad. In 1978 I received a speeding ticket for going 25 miles per hour in a school zone on a day when school was out. It was a state holiday and the the school zone signals were not programed to stop for the holiday. I was looking for an address and as I told the officer I just didn’t notice the signal. No kids, cars or school buses were around. My buddy, the retired policeman, said I should have fought the ticket. I didn’t. I paid it. I could have fought it but somehow I knew I should have obeyed the signal. I was wrong.
God was telling me to be more careful and pay more attention when driving. Just because there were no children present was irrelevant. Thinking back I should have been thankful to God for the reminder, albiet a negative one to be more careful.
One of my readers, Sue, on last weeks reflection reminded me that even a dying person can Teach us something about life. David, in today’s readings, was not perfect. He did some good and some bad. Nonetheless, he loved the Lord and God forgave him all his sins. Yes, there is forgiveness in the Old Testatament. The important thing to remember is that God uses sinners for His Divine purposes.
We may not see the purpose of the bad in our lives but like David we need to give Him thanks everyday for everything that is going on in our lives. My niece, Laura, and her boyfriend just went to the local Catholic Church to get their marriages annuled and to start their child in a Catholic grade school. They both have PTSD and are trying to get their lives on track.
Something that I never saw happening is happening with this couple. My prayers and my sister’s prayers may be coming together for good. My mistake was to doubt the Lord’s timing. I somehow had fallen into the trap that nothing was going to help them. My prayers were perfuntory and half hearted. I should have been thanking the Lord for all He was about to do in their lives, in my life and now what He is about to do in your life.
Look at David and look to yourself. David was a hero when he killed the Phillistine, Goliath. David didn’t know the future. He had no knowlege he would be king some day. Israel was ruled by Judges at the time. Looking back when I was David’s age I had grim prospects for the future. I never thought I would live past 30. We don’t know the future will bring. Today and every day, we need to give thanks for God working in our lives. Because everything is for the glory of God in our lives. The failure of today may become the gold of tomorrow. Give Thanks!
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Pray for all those with Cancer and their caregivers.
