When God is going to do something wonderful, He or She always starts with a hardship

11/29/15 - Advent Day 1 - and, this year, Pastor Michael is prompting us with quotes.  And today's quote is from Anne Lamott:
           "When God is going to do something wonderful, He or She always starts with a hardship;
              when God is going to do something amazing, She or He always starts with an impossibility."

Well, for me, this brought up one of my favorite song quotes, from Garth Brooks:
           "Some of God's Greatest Gifts, are Unanswered Prayers"

And it's true.  I remember how upset I was in 1991 when my College girlfriend, to whom I planned to propose, wrote me a letter from her home (she was home for the Summer) to tell me she was getting engaged to her H.S. Boyfriend.  I remember calling my mom, and some friends, at 1 o'clock in the morning and crying and getting consolation.  And I was pretty depressed after that, spending the summer working 2-3 jobs to keep my mind off of my sorrows.

But, I often think, that melancholy time was a blessing to me.  For, three years later, I met Sarah Jayne Walters and the life and family I have and love right now is all possible because I was unattached and (thankfully) Sarah thought I was funny and cute.

I guess my current "hardship" in life is my inability to find time to complete my dissertation.  But I do have a plan and hope for progress in the next two months.  So we will see where my path goes after that.  I feel sort of guilty putting that as a hardship with what I see and know is going on the world today.  But, I guess, I should thank God for those blessings as well.  As my Father-in-Law said in his Thanksgiving blessing, it is easy to ask God for help when we are down and out, but it is also necessary for us to Thank God when things are good.

Michael also asked us to read and reflect on Psalm 24, which asks the question, "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?"   The answer is in the next verse:
          "Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
            who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
            and do not swear deceitfully."
and this is how I try to live, honestly as possible, even when honesty is not always beneficial to me. Help People, not Hurt People ; Be Good, Have Fun ; Always Tell the Truth - lessons I have tried to teach my children and lessons I continue to remind myself of all the time.

Recognizing unanswered prayers, having hope when things are hard, appreciating what we have, living with a clean and pure heart - Good lessons for Advent and, frankly, for the whole year-long!