I wrote this one year ago this week, and wanted to share it again.  I'll post another one, but hope this one encourages, as well.  Grace and peace.

Bad is Real

I’ve had a bad week.  There, I said it.  Did I just see you squirm?  I didn’t say it to make anyone feel uncomfortable.  I didn’t say it to make anyone feel sorry for me, I’m a big boy.  I don’t need a phone call, seriously.  I’m not looking for an ‘atta boy.  I’ve just had a bad week.  But I’m not alone.

I had someone in my office this week weeping over the pain another student is experiencing; I cried with them.  One of my friends attempting to deal with things that are completely out of their control made this statement:  “God is good, I just have to believe that”.   As they shared that with me, I cried with them too.  I saw one of you sitting in the chapel yesterday, with tears in your eyes, and asked if everything was okay.  They responded saying they had better weeks.  I asked if they wanted to talk or be left alone, after saying left alone I honored their wishes, shedding a tear for my hurting friend as I walked away.  Another of my friends was moved to tears, questioning whether they conveyed the sensitivity appropriate for a situation they were in realizing what was done couldn’t be redone; yep, cried with them too.  Guess I’m not the only one, am I?

I’ve questioned my emotional response to what I consider a bad week.  I even asked my wife last night if I’m just too sensitive, or even too soft.  As she always does, she lovingly and gracefully helped me see the truth; so here it is.  I’m glad I am here, nowhere else I’d rather be than doing life with you, honest.  But there are some things I will never understand, and some worlds I can’t live in or change.  I’m making some of you nervous, being too honest, huh? 

Here’s the truth that we heard from a speaker and a song this week; bad is real and sometimes life hurts.  Bad stuff happens to good people all the time.  Life is no respecter of person.  But as we also heard from a speaker, a friend, and a song this week; God is good.  God is in the middle of all that is good and bad, no respecter of person.  And for me, that changes everything.

He could handle Kristian’s honesty, and he can handle mine.  He sees the tears of a freshman nursing major, weeping with her this week as she says good-bye to her brother.  He sees my friend sitting at her desk today, still mourning the loss of her spouse.  He knows the issues you are navigating, wondering how in the world you will tell the people you love most.  Listen to me, this is real stuff, stuff we haven’t asked for or caused or deserve, and there are times real stuff hurts.  I want to allow God and my world to be big enough to acknowledge the times I feel alone, abandoned, in pain, full of sorrow.  If I can’t express these to God, then neither can I express my praise and thanksgiving.  He is big enough for both, if we will let him be.

Check out Jesus himself, the one in whose way we seek to live.  I don’t think Jesus’ words on the cross were empty when he was seeking God in the midst of death, asking where he was, even why he had forsaken or abandoned him in that moment.  I don’t believe God abandoned him, but he felt like He had.  Bet that was a bad day too.  Ever been there, maybe this week?  We’re in good company.

So I’ve had a bad week, thanks be to God.  I’m really sorry for those that don’t get it, because I’ve realized once again that God isn’t just in the good, but is right in the middle of all that’s bad too.  And we all know, bad is real.