Memory Tester

I'm not sure why I forget. But enough time passes and I do. See, what I think I want is a day without responsibilities. I guess I should have been more specific. A couple of weeks ago I got a sick day. Sick days sound like a really good time when you're healthy. After all, what better way to catch up on reading, perhaps do some deep thinking (read: nap), and maybe even catch up on some banking.

Into my seventh hour of ESPN's Sportscenter I realized that the only thought that had gone through my mind all day was a repeated prayer; 'Why God is this happening to me?' I felt horrible, despite hearing the latest in basketball trade rumors and seeing justice served in Court TV.

I recently read a book called Love and War, by John and Stasi Eldredge, on the topic of marriage. In it they hammer home the point that marriage is a gift from God that helps us to grow. In this wonderful gift of marriage we are given a mate who sometimes causes us to ask God why he (or she) is happening to us. The answer is to that question is that God has growth planned for us through marriage, perhaps only surpassed by the lessons we learn from having children.

Now, I have neither space nor inclination to answer the deeper philosophical questions about why bad things happen to good-looking people such as myself. But perhaps I can offer one small encouragement.

Perhaps we are asking the wrong questions. Maybe what God really wants is for us to ask what we can learn from our experiences, our relationships, and certainly our mistakes. If our goal is to be more like Christ, then shouldn't we be looking for every chance to accomplish this? My relationships are avenues for continued growth. I'm not sure daytime television has any benefit at all, but perhaps surviving my sick day has something to teach me after all. I know the next time I want a free day, I'll be sure to clarify that request with God.