Dillon Community Church

When I was eight, both of my older brothers were already in college. For Christmas, one of them bought me a white college sweatshirt. I couldn’t wait to wear it, but it was really cold and had snowed several inches overnight, so I layered up with my brand-new sweatshirt on the outside. Getting together that Christmas day to sled on the hill behind our house, we frequently made a “train” by locking our feet into the sled behind us.

On my “last” run (it always happens on the last run!!), I was the caboose as we gathered speed going down the hill turning left and right. As we passed over a storm drain, the person in front of me let go of my sled.  Down into the drain outlet I went, battered and bruised, but worse were the orange iron stains covering my new sweatshirt. I was shattered, wondering why God lets things like this happen.  

Now, however, I can laugh at what a sight I must have been, and what a great story I have to tell. It’s a reminder that God’s ways are not our ways, but we can rely on his faithfulness and goodness (Romans 8:28). Remember this this Advent season!

Rob Strode, elder