Posted by
Ric Dibney on Thursday, August 30, 2007 9:02:55 PM
I don't remember everything I was supposed to have learned in high school, but one of the things I recall from those decades ago is what defined a "Comedy" and a "Tragedy" in the Greek world. A "comedy" was a story that ended well, no matter how harrying and dark the path toward the end, a happy ending gave a theatrical production the "comedy" stamp. Likewise was the case for the "tragedy". Things may be going well even late into the last act, but if our hero dies of poisoning, that's it... it's a "tragedy" for sure.
What has me thinking on this is the recent revelation of some of Mother Theresa's memoirs which revealed some of the doubts that she had in her heart about God. And it would seem that there are those who are trying to make some real hay out of that. It's as if, "if Mother Theresa had doubts, shouldn't we question our faith?" Now I am a pastor. I know the "Christian thing". And I am revealing no deep secrets when I say that almost everyone who ever decided to walk with Jesus has had his or her doubts and struggles. In fact, it's pretty safe to say that all of us, regardless of our relationship with faith, have experienced many of life's peaks and valleys. Life just isn't a straight line toward the sun. If layed out like a topographical map, it would have more bumps than a kid with chicken pox. And the definition of faith and sainthood and all the rest isn't whether you've had doubts and fears. What defines us all is how we finish. It's "News at 11" now that the world's most famous nun had her doubts at times and even wrote them down in her personal journal. What we already knew is that after that day (or days, or week, or however long it was) there was yet another when she got up at 4AM to dedicate herself yet again to the cause of Christ. She doubted, but she did not allow her doubts to lead her to despair. The Lord she served had gotten her too far for her to turn back when questions and feelings of spiritual distance came her way.
Maybe you're reading this and faith is just not your bag. You have no interest in Christianity or church or any of that stuff and you would rather I not preach. That's cool. But in case you wondered, yes, those of us who believe sometimes have our doubts... just like you do. But the trick is that we're not staying there. No matter what I feel, one thing I know... God loves me and desires for me to live for Him. Therefore I will believe and I will trust and I will follow Jesus no matter what peaks and valleys lie yet ahead. That's in case you were wondering. But I suspect that most have the same reaction so many of us had when the broadcast media revealed the shocking revelation that saint Mother Theresa went through the valley of the shadow of death like everyone else... "What's next? The sun goes down in the west?"