Good or Bad?

Is today’s sunshine good or bad?  Should I revel in the events of the moment or wonder if they will be good or bad?  Will the “blessings” of the day last or turn into tomorrow’s nightmare. 
 
It is far too easy to get excited about what appears to be a great thing of the moment.  As good as something may seem, time may have other ideas.  The very notion of positive and negative events in our lives may not be a relevant.  Perhaps our traditional notions of good and bad events are shaped and defined by our perceived needs for the “self”.  There is the alternative we need to consider. 
 
Events are always gateways to opportunities.  What may seem like a disaster could be an opportunity to touch your soul and the lives of those around you.  Everything hinges on how you respond to the moment.  If one realizes what is going to happen one can be prepared to handle the process.  The fact is that we need to “fix this firmly in your minds: You're going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party.  You'll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.” (John 16.20)  The question is not simply how we respond to the ugly things in life.  These events are only half the story on a good day, even less if we choose to ignore our response to them.
 
What if we took the events of our lives into the following framework?  Every event is an opportunity to learn.  Every event is an opportunity to grow.  Every event is a lab in which we can apply the principles most valuable in our lives; mercy, unconditional love, and acceptance. 
 
The past few days, week, and months have been full of pain, stress, and turmoil.  The time has also been filled with stunning moments of beauty, gifts of grace, and a sense of peace.  I find myself filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and an overwhelming sense of peace.  Everything is possible.  Anything can be accomplished.