On a happier note, my exile to the couch has given me a lot of time to think and pray. Just outside the window is an enormous web with a fat and apparently happy spider sitting in its center. The kids have named the spider Kim. Poor Kim has had her web destroyed time and time again since we moved-in a couple of months ago. Despite this, she continues to rebuild. I have to ask myself, why? Why bother working on something so beautiful and so delicate with the almost certain knowledge that it will be torn down? Yet, there she is, spinning the slender silver strands into art that would be envied in any museum.
You'll forgive me if I wax philosophical for a moment. I was reading through the book of Luke recently and ran across a wonderful Greek term, "macrothumeyo" which means, generally, to "hang in there" or to "endure hardship until justice comes". What a wonderful word. So often I forget that life isn't necessarily supposed to be easy. We can forget that it is usually from times of adversity and struggle from which our greatest triumph and victory emerge. I'm learning that trial, not temptation, can become a defining force in our lives and literally shape who we are. No one hails a 24 year old man who can throw a football leisurely in his backyard. Place that same man doing the same thing in midst of a Superbowl battle, however, and great victory can often result.
The past year has been pretty hard for our family. There have been a lot of changes and challenges. It goes without saying that God has remained faithful in the midst of all of them. We are learning, though, that these times of trying are opportunities for us to grow: to grow in our faith in Him and to grow in our love and understanding for each other.
We are purposing, then, to continue to "rebuild" our webs like Keep-along Kim and, despite what winds blow around us, pursue the dream we believe God has given us for the future.
I hope you will, too.
I'll keep you posted.
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