The broad paintbrush of life operates without discrimination. If anyone is in charge of this painting there no actions seem to vary because I am a man or a woman, white or black, rich or poor. Disease hits randomly and without regard to any impact on children, spouses, or extended family. Catastrophic events occur with as much or more frequency where they are never expected. Love is universally fragile and precious; our ability to care for it as illusive for one as for all.
Ironically I often find my reacting to comments about an individual based on a unique characteristic. Most of the time, I discover that remarks fall into one of two distinct buckets. Either the brush stroke was so general that it could apply to anyone or no one, or the stroke fit the person to that nuance. When Wisdom commented about what makes a real woman – “the woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-GOD” (Proverbs 31.30) – I knew that the comment applied to anyone that we should admire and praise!
You and I, all of us, stand equally before God. Nothing that I have done, am doing, or will do can or will change this fact.
God offers to each of us measures of the same cup. In this cup is a call to action, a gift of ministry, and the power of being connected with the Divine.
God’s passion for relationship defies anything that we understand. He sacrificed, eternally and without reservation, part of himself so that we could be in relationship. Nothing can get in the way of this, except for our choice.
So the questions remain. A new day dawns, a fresh start sits waiting, and the choice of what happens next rests in our court. In some ways there crossroad is unique to the human God equation. We determine what happens next. Our fear, awe of God, amazement of the Divine will shape the future. God looks at each as individuals; can we do anything differently? The question is – what’s next?
