Good?

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

 

It’s got to be a God-thing, that this would be the verse today. The past for days have been hard. Being sick is always hard. I remember having COVID back in 2021. I remember thinking that the cold I had last November was worse. This past weekend wasn’t a head or chest thing, it was free ranging. My body has been at war, and it’s winning, slowly. But this weekend was my choir's performance and I was supposed to teach some folks how to macrame. Poof – all gone. And Romans 8:28 is the verse that shows up on Biblegateway.com? How could it not be a God-thing?

And I know, now that I’m starting to work my way out of this, that it’ll be OK. It’s got to get better in the next two weeks. But today’s verse is a challenge. Is my not being able to sing last night going to work for good? Is my not teaching macrame today going to work for good. Yes, I know, they seem trivial. What does it matter if I didn’t sing or don’t teach? Big, fat, hairy deal! I get that. But what about the next thing that you or I don’t do? I’m not saying those things are huge things that matter a lot but two questions spring to mind. How often do the things we think are critical are no bigger or more important than my singing or teaching? And on the other side, if all things work for the good, then mustn’t this illness and my inability to sing or teach work for the good? Does it mean what it says?

And that’s the question of the day. True – as bad as the virus was, it was a virus and I’m recovering. But do I believe that the virus itself will work for my good? Do I believe my not singing or teacher will work together for good? How? Two ways leap up and wave for attention. The first is that I may now be able to better comfort or help those who are ill. What would have been a help to me – other than a miraculous cure – over the past four days?

The answer to that question depends on the person who is ill, of course, but the thing that most bothered me was in not getting basic stuff done. I did laundry and took it off the line, but didn’t get it put away. Such a minor, trivial thing and maybe the “correct” response is “Who cares? Let it wait,” and that sort of help would have exposed others to my virus (and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy!) But the point is that I didn’t lack food. What I lacked was care – and what that means changes.

The second way is that people have been offering assistance – usually errands or dog-walking – and I’ve been declining. I have more food than I need and manage the walks. In other words, people have been offering care in terms of what they think are obvious. And I’ve been declining until today. Yep, I’m now feeling much better and accepting chicken soup and dog walks.  Illnesses are opportunities to let others move closer – or when we drive them away. I am so desperate to be strong, competent, sufficient, capable, etc., that it does me good to not only have an excuse to accept help, but to submit to being helped in whatever form it comes (even someone taking Grace for a walk and now it’s raining!)

So, working for good – oh yeah.