Many sides. Many views. One story.

It seems just a moment ago the year got started. Whew!! Time truly seems to fly. In the little time there's been both gain and not so gainful; joy and not so joyful; success and not so successful etc. The role of being a victor or the victim is both perceivable -- a many sided story of that which, there is no doubt, is part of a grander scheme. Oh, how may one understand and how may one know? Is one a victor or a victim here? 

To His words one finds solace [1, 2, 3]. Therein lies the one story. The one story of ones purpose. The one story, eternally told, that gives meaning to the contemporary. The ancient tale of time, of time before, and time to be. What if it is otherwise? What if it isn't in the affirmative? It is ultimately good [4, 5]! Why isn't it always so good now? Why is there to be the 'not-so-good' to arrive at or appreciate the good? Perhaps much like the labor pain before the new-born's cry. Even though a 'cry', quite often attributed to a sad, depressed, 'not-so-good' state of mind in a grown-up child or an adult, there is joy in knowing the little one is with us. Like the crawling and falling before walking. Like the rain clouds need to pour before the sunshine [I like it when it rains sometimes]. What if there were no pain before birth, nor crawling before walking? What if supposed good need not be straddled with straps of the not-so-good? Like a terrain without valleys nor mountains. Like a meadow without livestock nor animal forms to graze. Like a canvass without splashes of color made with the brush. 

You're ultimately good, as is your plan and story of our lives, Lord.  In knowing this, one finds rest and assurance. In knowing this, one finds courage and joy to press on. Lead on, Lord.