Twists

Jerry May used to talk about the paradox of his life's story.  The ups and downs that came initially as blessings and later as curses, dramatically changed Jerry's willingness to categorize anything that happened in his life as “bad” or “good”.  Life simply was and is.  We learn and grow, or we die at a faster rate.  We are intentional, or we give freedom to evil.  We engage and contribute, or we take and destroy.  Life is about struggle, awareness, and deciding which community one wants to live in.  Life pivots on the decision to be part of a holistic community that cares for others or worshipping the god of self.  Everything else along the way is simply a twist or turn, initially dizzying but ultimately simply a distraction to life's real question.
The dominating reality of life struck me as I relate with those that struggle to stay in touch with others they care about.  When I combine this with the reality that relationships can be broken by emotional abandonment as easily as any other failure, I find that I am consuming a recipe for a pessimistic future.  There are far too many competing demands for anyone to succeed by their abilities.  There are far too many reasons for everyone to fail.  Even if life does not overwhelm you, the evil within one's soul will dominate your decisions and path. 
Jerry made the following observation in his book titled Addition and Grace; “though the will to do what is good is in me, the power to do it is not.  Today's headlines replay variations on the theme of well intentioned people that have and are failing on many different fronts.  There is a Power that changes you and my odds for success.  The God of Compassion has offered to be our guide and mentor.  Embedded is this gift is the assurance that the end of the story is already written.
“When he could be hidden no longer, he was put outside-and immediately rescued by Pharaoh's daughter, who mothered him as her own son.” (Acts 7.21)