Tuesday, January 20, 2004

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.
(Romans 8.28 NRSV)

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When Wayne Kraiss, president of Southern California College, was a rookie pastor in Wheaton, Illinois, he called upon a dear elderly woman who had immigrated to this country from Europe. He found her bedridden and very ill. Following his prayer, he was quite disappointed there was no apparent change in her condition.

Reading the consternation on his face, she said, "Well pastor, this must be one of the 'all things.'" He asked what she meant.

"When I was a little girl in Germany," she replied, "one day I asked my mother what it means that 'all things work together for good.' My mother was baking a cake and, without directly answering my question, she handed me a spoonful of baking soda. It tasted awful. Finally, I asked her what she was doing and she responded that she was answering my question.

"Amelia,' my mother said, 'I don't want you to ever forget that all things taken by themselves are not always pleasant. But when they are mixed together and fired in the oven, you love the results.'"

The baking soda by itself was awful. Mixed into a cake, however, it was wonderful. That is the faith-filled way of looking at life.

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God of all things, help be to be faithful and to see the good in all things. Amen.

Ron Newhouse

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