Filler

This Sunday is my installation/induction/commissioning service and therefore I will not be continuing on in the "I am" series, which leaves me open to write a blog about whatever I want. The freedom is overwhelming! Next week I will continue with "I am the good shepherd", but until then it's all up to me...so here we go!

I have chosen to write on joy in sufferings, since I believe struggles may be something we all have from time to time.

A couple of weeks ago I was driving to work, as I often do (for those who are wondering if pastors actually show up at the office). In front of me was a mini-van, driving at a painfully slow pace. Behind me was a Land Rover, who could not handle the current speed and believed by driving really close to me they would somehow be able to speed things up. The Land Rover had those bright blue lights, you know the ones that when they hit a bump you think that they are flashing their high beams at you. I felt myself growing annoyed, go figure. I have been a commuter for less than a month and I already know the controlling power of road rage.

At last the single lane opened up into two lanes and the Land Rover sped past me and the van. I too passed the van, but driving a kia sephia, you rarely speed by anything. I was now in front of the van having pulled into the right hand lane again, while the Land Rover was ahead of both of us in the left hand lane. Then God stepped in and before the Land Rover could react he was stuck behind someone turning left, allowing both myself and the van to pass. The Rover was now forced to pull out behind the van just as the two lanes returned to one. At seeing this I began to laugh. What started out as a little snicker soon evolved into a full out sinister, in your face Land Rover, kind of laugh. It took me the rest of my trip to stop laughing. You would have sworn I had just brought Frankenstein to life by the way I was carrying on at the misfortune of my fellow traveler. I must say, I did feel a little silly when I finally composed myself.

Paul instructed us in Romans 5 to rejoice in our sufferings. I am sure he did not mean for us to rejoice in the sufferings of others as I had done. What's so amazing about this concept is what follows this particular statement. It is through our sufferings that we begin to persevere. It is through our perseverance that we develop character. It is through our character that we are given hope, and hope does not disappoint. There is no one thing that takes place on its own, but rather, they are developed sequentially, in order that we may end up at our final destination, hope. If the world needs a dose of something, hope would be it, but often that hope can only come about through our sufferings. And remember, hope is not a wishing, instead it is a promise that will not disappoint, if the hope we have is placed in the Christ who died for the ungodly.

Rob