Life Well Played
"It's not about the cards you're dealt, but how you play the hand."
- Randy Pausch
We recently celebrated the new year. Most of us welcomed it with open arms, eager to see what the new year holds. However, it's also a time of year that draws us to reflect on the passage of time and look back at the year passed, re-living the joyous moments with gratitude.
There have been times in this past year we would not want to re-live. Even reflecting on those occasions may be difficult, causing immense pain and heartache. We might want those memories to end along with the year 2016 and enjoy a fresh start of the new year ahead. But perhaps those experiences were not easily forgotten once January 1 arrived. They came along because they are now a part of our stories. Sadly, some memories carry with it fear of what might come in the new year.
Jesus prepared His disciples for this very occasion in the book of John. He tells his closest friends in chapter 16, "I tell you the truth," (sometimes we don't like to hear the truth), "you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices." Not the message they wanted to hear from the One they believed was going to rescue them from pain and sorrow. But then He goes on to say, "You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." (vs.20&22)
This past year my friend had to walk through her worst nightmare - the loss of her daughter. A horrific experience that she will have to journey through and endure for the rest of her life. This is not at all what she had planned. And especially not the hand she wanted to be dealt. It's not right. It's unfair. It's unimaginable. I can only imagine the "why" questions that consume her and all of us who carry painful life experiences into the next year.
Why do bad things happen? Why didn't God rescue me from that affliction? Why did we have to go through all that brokenness? Why didn't God save my marriage? Why didn't He protect my daughter? Why?
Jesus doesn't explain the "why" in this passage as He prepares His disciples for His departure and what was to come in the future without Him. He simply says, "but your grief will turn to joy." Jesus knew His close friends, whom He loved and would die for, would experience great pain and hardship. In closing His conversation with them, He says, "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrow. BUT take heart because I have overcome the world." (vs.33)
If the cards you were dealt in 2016 were painful and full of sorrow, remember they too are part of your story, moments and experiences which make up who you are and whom you'll become.
How will we play out the hand we were dealt in 2016? Especially those cards which are difficult to play and seemingly senseless? I would never minimize the pain my friend is going through and will continue to go through for years to come, but I pray she will find peace in knowing our God still reigns over the world's trouble. My heart's desire is for her to be able to take heart, playing the hand she's been given well, knowing that her grief will someday turn to joy.
My prayer is that when we see Jesus again He will say, "Life Well Played!"
