By Steve Hall
Granted that we seldom, if ever, see a young man rising from his coffin; but we do see the hand of God at work every day, every minute, every hour, every second. Where? In every imperceptible thing that happens both to you and to every other person.
Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, Priest
Colossians 2:6-15
Luke 6:12-19
“And that’s the way it is.”
A newscaster from years ago (Walter Cronkite) used to close his TV news show with that line. It was matter-of-fact. It was simple. It was down-to-earth. It was pragmatic. Some would say it’s a reasonable, no-nonsense way to approach life. We would probably have to concede that, at least from some perspective, the statement is true.
But suppose. Just suppose . . . Someone walked into your community just as a casket carrying the only son of a widowed mother was being carried from church. This stranger approached the group of mourners, told the mother not to cry, leaned over the casket, opened the lid, and said: “Young man, I tell you, arise!” And suppose . . . just suppose . . . at those words, this bereaved mother’s son sat up and began to speak.
Could you, or anyone, possibly report the news that day and then just close with, “And that’s the way it is.”
Whether boring or hectic, joyful or disturbing, peaceful or threatening, it would be phlegmatic, to the point of being detached from reality, to find consolation after such an event in those words: “Well, that’s the way it is.” Granted that we seldom, if ever, see a young man rising from his coffin; but we do see the hand of God at work every day, every minute, every hour, every second. Where? In every imperceptible thing that happens both to you and to every other person. As each nano-second unfolds, our Father is present and active. In fact, that is true for every animal, plant, rock, and bit of stardust as well.
So now I’ve gone too far, and neither your imagination nor mine can grasp more than the fundamental truth of what was just said. Nevertheless, it is logically so, because it is in accord with who we know God to be. But the tendency is to ignore the fact and reluctantly say, “Well, that’s the way it is.” But it’s not! It’s not just the way it is. It’s the wonder of God’s presence, involvement, and participation in our lives as time unfolds.
Our understanding may be limited, but our appreciation of the truth should not be. Let’s not be deceived when we hear the words of Paul: “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) There is only one Good; and that is God. He has but one plan for us — to draw us closer to himself. So, whether in death or in returning to life in your coffin, it all somehow and someway works together for your good.
An appreciation of that fact has the power to overcome all adversity.