Lately, some of my conversations have had a common theme, that of dissatisfaction. Folks don\u2019t like how things in their lives are going. It\u2019s no surprise, really. In spite of the abundance of blessings that surround us, there\u2019s rarely a day when everything goes exactly to plan. When we are struggling with something or something that we\u2019ve really been counting on falls short of our expectations or we\u2019ve received some kind of bad news, it\u2019s hard not to be disappointed and discouraged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some of us are homesick; others, though eager to start our college studies, are frustrated by the demands of classes outside our major. Perhaps your roommate situation isn\u2019t all you hoped for or the job you thought would be perfect for you isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those of us who work at Valpo aren\u2019t immune to these blues. Even if life on campus is full of rewards, there are days when the workload feels overwhelming. Our home life can be bittersweet with concerns about children or aging parents filling our minds and threatening to rob us of our joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequently, jokes and pithy stories show up in my email inbox, forwarded from a friend or relative \u2013 sometimes from my mother who, at the age of 91, is on her computer daily. Recently, she sent along a story that I hope you\u2019ll find both funny and useful. Perhaps you\u2019ve seen a version. Here it is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One Sunday morning at a small southern church, the new pastor called on one of his older deacons to lead in the opening prayer. The deacon stood up, bowed his head and said,\u201dLord, I hate buttermilk.\u201d<\/em> Now, this is not to say there won\u2019t be times for honest, broken-hearted mourning. We\u2019ve all been alive long enough to know that such days will come. That said, the words of this wise deacon\u2019s prayer ring true because in the work of Christ, everything resolves into resurrection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I pray that when things aren\u2019t going your way, you\u2019ll find the hopeful resolve to wait for, and even expect, the biscuits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Peace and joy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pastor Jim<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sept. 6, 2017<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pastor opened one eye and wondered where this was going. The deacon continued, \u201cLord, I hate lard.\u201d Now the pastor was totally perplexed. The deacon continued, \u201cLord, I ain\u2019t too crazy about plain flour. But after you mix \u2019em all together and bake \u2019em in a hot oven, I just love biscuits.\u201d<\/em>
\u201cLord, help us to realize when life gets hard, when things come up that we don\u2019t like, whenever we don\u2019t understand what You are doing, that we need to wait and see what You are making. After You get through mixing and baking, it\u2019ll probably be something even better than biscuits. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n