We’ve been on the road with the Fredonia State Blue Devils and though they’ve played hard the young men have come up empty. It’s easy to be proud of a winning team. It’s harder to find the positives in a team that has trouble winning. The State University of New York Athletic Conference is very competitive. Today’s opponent, the Potsdam Bears, were definitely the better team. Fredonia rallied from thirteen down to take a two point lead only to see it disappear and finally lose the game. Our son Devin has only two games left in his senior season and it was tough to console a boy who loves basketball and hates losing. As we watched him board the bus home I said, “All things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose.” I don’t know if that brought any comfort to Devin. I don’t think it did much to assuage my own feelings about the game and the waning season.
Who do I trust? Do I really trust God to bring something postitive out what looks like a big negative? I can’t say that I always find the positive in what looks like big negatives, but I know there is a bigger picture. St. James also counsels that we should welcome the bad things that happen to us along with the good. When I fail to look deeply and contemplatively at what happens to me on a daily basis I miss the opporunity to see God’s hand in it all. I pray for the wisdom to wait on the Lord. Psalm 46:11 admonishes me to “be still and know that I am God.” Help me to be still. Peace.