reminiscing...

Anyone ever just sit and think about something from the past... reminiscing the good... the not so good?

This morning as I cleaned out my email, I happened upon the emails from our Ethiopia trip in October. As you know that trip was interrupted. Part of the team was never to step foot on African soil and some of us were to return early.

Thinking back and pondering on the trip sent me into a spider web of thoughts. I went from thinking, "Why did we have to leave?" to "Why do people get cancer?" From there my mind spiraled into question after question... "Why are children trafficked? Why do I yell at and exasperate my children? Good friends move away. People divorce... loved ones pass on... Why? Why did I let that friend go without a fight? Why are people starving? Why do I thoughtlessly say things I shouldn't? Why do natural disasters claim the lives of hundreds... thousands... millions? Why do bad things... hard things happen?" 

Sometimes life is hard. And sometimes we just cannot understand.

Then my mind turned to Paul. How was Paul able to be content in all of it? Paul, who was beaten with rods, pelted with stones, and three times shipwrecked said, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (Philippians 4:12)

What was this contentment Paul had? How did he get it and where did it come from? 

Maybe Paul sang this song. And as I continue this journey here on earth, I too, will sing and meditate on these words...

As I continue to reminisce... 

I remember a time when my eyes weren't focused on Him.

During that time, my contentment was fleeting. It would come and go and there was nothing, as the song says, that was well with my soul. Today when I recall things of the past, whether they be good or bad, I am grateful. Grateful for lessons learned. Grateful for God's forgiveness. Grateful for God's steadfast love. And I am content.

The author of Hebrews said, "Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith..." 

So as you reminisce and then turn your eyes to what is ahead, I pray you fix our eyes on Jesus...

When you do, I believe you will say... "It is well."

And in any and every situation, you will be content.