Sudden Mishaps & Thanksgiving

Article about Sowing Seeds of Faith and Internet Ministry

“Sudden Mishaps"

“Larry, why do you have a cast on your hand?”

I experimented with three possible explanations:

My wife did it. (They either don’t believe me or say: “You probably deserved it.”)
My favorite football team has been losing lately. (You should see the TV set!)
Attempting to catch a line drive on our church softball team. (Shouldn’t you use a glove?)

When I sheepishly admit to playing softball, I get two very different reactions: Women look at me like I've lost my mind but express sympathy for the injury. Men, on the other hand seek an answer to two critical questions: “Did you still catch the ball? Did your team win?” Unfortunately, it is “No” to both questions, which makes me a wimp. Although, I did continue playing! Does that help my manhood?

I try to laugh but wearing a cast is no fun. Driving, typing and even taking a shower now become more difficult and time-consuming. So, if my replies to your emails seem short, you know why.

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Who would have guessed that at my age, I would be wearing a cast? Mishaps happen!

A few days later, while driving home, I noticed everyone moving to the right lane because of a construction project ahead. The left lane however, suddenly and miraculously cleared: A completely open lane just for me. Wow! Who could resist? Like a VIP, I serenely sliced through stalled traffic as a hot knife through butter… until a car entering from a side street suddenly moved directly in my path.

There was no time to think. I remember jerking the car to the left and back to the right missing cars on both sides of the road by mere inches. Everything happened so fast, I didn’t even have a chance to scream at the other driver. As the reality sunk in of what almost occurred, I pulled over to the side of the road to calm frayed nerves and utter a prayer of thanks to God for a miracle. Mishaps happen!

So, the question is… How can God help us deal with those inevitable, mishaps?

The Apostle Paul wrote to churches feeling the sting of persecution. Overwhelmed and devastated they were pleading for help. In other words, they were dealing with serious mishaps. What could Paul write to ease their suffering and provide hope in the midst of fear? The answer may surprise you.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us—they help us learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation. And this expectation will not disappoint us. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:3-5)

Rejoice while enduring mishaps? Are you crazy? Maybe… but I found four crucial lessons that offer enduring hope:

Mishaps… can hit anyone and everyone from a potential fender bender to a terrorist attack.
Mishaps… can actually be helpful because we develop endurance. No pain… no gain.
Mishaps… strengthen our character as we endure. Our endurance becomes our witness.
Mishaps… lead us to rely on God’s Holy Spirit. Our faith deepens. Our ministry broadens.

How many honors we receive… our accomplishments, our financial rewards, our years of service don’t matter near as much to God as a tested faith strengthened and purified by struggle. In other words, how we learn to cope with mishaps shapes our outlook on life and defines our relationship with God. How we overcome mishaps represents our witness to the outside world. For this, we can be thankful.

Is it easy? Of course not! This is why you and I need a church community to offer encouragement and help us pursue a deeper relationship with God. So, today, I will rejoice my many mishaps for lessons learned, character strengthened and for the comforting presence of God’s Holy Spirit. May my heart be filled with God’s love and grace. Now, if I can just learn to catch a fly ball… with my glove this time.

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Last modified August 16, 2004.

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