For no good reason…

For no good reason when I was about 15 I, along with about 5 buddies, decided we liked throwing mudballs at cars. One time when we really connected, out of the blue there were 3 police cars that turned their lights on simultaneously. They were waiting. We had our backs to a school building hiding in the bushes and in front and to each side they were approaching. We all agreed to run at once and in different directions in hopes of confusing them. It worked. We scattered and they had no chance.

For no good reason those same friends and I decided that when it snowed a bunch we would hide in the bushes at a 4 way stop and when a car would pull up we would sneak behind it, grab the bumper, and ride! We called them “goolies”. For no good reason. One time after we counted to three and all let go at the same time, John’s gloves were still stuck to the bumper. Can you imagine the look on the car owner’s face when they pulled into the garage that night?

For no good reason one day we stole a car and drove it around for a few hours and then parked it and left. For no good reason.

I remember one time when my parents came to Texas and some of my college friends were there, one of them, Kyle, said, “I know Chuck got into a lot of trouble when he was younger and now that I’ve met his dad, I realize how stupid Chuck really was”. My dad was big! Forearms like Popeye.

For no good reason God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son. At least I’m sure it seemed that way to Abraham. Yet he obeyed and took Isaac up a hill to sacrifice him. He trusted God had a bigger plan. He trusted that God was good.

I remember an old story of a farmer whose son was drafted into the military during war time and his friends lamented about how bad it was that his son was drafted. The farmer replied, “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, all I know is my son was drafted”. Then came news that the son was injured and again the farmer’s friends lamented. Again the father said, “I don’t know if it’s good or bad that he was injured, I just know he was injured”. Finally, the news came that his son was coming home and in good condition. The farmer’s friends rejoiced. The farmer said, “I don’t know if it’s good or bad, all I know is my son is coming home”.

For no good reason I was left unprotected when I was 12. I don’t know why and never will know why. And for no good reason I was given a heart condition that would haunt me and hurt me and cause riffs in relationships for decades. People wouldn’t believe me, I would be embarrased and I would learn early that I had to hide it. A lot for a 12 year old. Seemingly for no good reason.

During this difficult time, for seemingly no good reason, I have people in my life that are helping me, supporting me in ways without me even asking…loving me.

Is it possible, that maybe, just maybe, there is a good reason for all these years?

I remember when I went to the Mayo Clinic in 2010 and they found the deformity in the artery and heart. I remember when the doctor pulled me in and said, “I found it. And it’s not in your head. It’s in your heart”. Redemption. An exchange. I exchanged years of embarrassment and frustration for validation and compassion.

As I wrestle, I pray for a good reason, for redemption. An exchange.

Romans 8:28 – “For I know that ALL THINGS work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purpose”