Could be worse

I was spending time with a close friend who has had some real medical challenges. We chatted about how he could be authentic and at the same time not be "negatively viewed" when someone asked how he was doing. The reality is he is often doing "terrible", but he did not want to say that all the time. Neither did he want to say "just fine" without integrity. I love integrity and compassion like that.

It was raining as we left our lunch. Cold and wet. I offered to go get the car and bring it around. He shook me off and we both made a run for it, and got pretty soaked. "Nasty weather" I said as I started the car. My friend said, "Could be worse" to which we both laughed.

I noticed I had an umbrella in my car, so when we got back to the church I opened it and went around to his side of the car so he could get under it with me. We walked together, arms around each other into the building and we stayed dry.

When we got inside, a guy from our discipleship group was headed out, back to the office in a nice business shirt. "It is pouring" I said. The look on his face said it all. I said, "Take my umbrella" and he did.

So that is my story; our story. Sometimes things are cold and wet; it could be worse. Sometimes you are not doing well at all. There is an umbrella somewhere within your reach. The umbrella of the love and sovereignty of God. There is also a friend who can just hold you and and walk without saying much. Together you can stay dry.

And when you have that type of umbrella, you can give it away to those who are about to get drenched without it.