Who Signed Me Up For This?

The story is told of a young boy who was nearing the end of his first day of first grade. As the day wore on, he anxiously watched the hands of the clock on the wall. At 12 o’clock sharp, the young boy eagerly slipped on his backpack and headed for the door. Just before reaching the door, he caught the eye of his teacher, and she asked him where he was going. He dutifully informed her that it was 12 o’clock — time to go home, to which his teacher replied, "You’re not in kindergarten anymore. In first grade, we stay until 3 o’clock. Now, take off your backpack and come back to your table." Clearly frustrated and disappointed, the young man slowly made his way back to his desk. As he passed his teacher, with a frown on his face and a pouty bottom lip, he disdainfully asked, "Who signed me up for this anyway?"

Ever felt like that? I’ll bet you have. I’ll bet you know what it’s like to go through life focused on gusto and goals, only to have chance and circumstance throw you a curve ball that you miss wildly. The seemingly perfect mate left you for a younger, smarter, prettier companion. The hidden nest egg went up in smoke, along with your uninsured home. The promotion passed you over, only to land on someone with more youth and inexperience. The lump that appeared out of nowhere has put a cramp on your retirement plans. Life’s disappointments and despair often leave us feeling like the young boy in the story, longing for easier days gone by.

Fortunately, for the Christian, life’s value is not merely the sum total of successes and failures, hits and misses, and ups and downs. Rather, life is about doing what you have to do, learning what you have to learn, and feeling what you need to feel, in order to draw you closer to the One who made you and longs to see you face to face. Just because you’re ready to leave at 12 o’clock doesn’t mean that God won’t give you the strength to make it until 3 o’clock. Resolve to let him lead you, and accept the comfort that only He can provide.