Poor Me

Back in 1978, the famed Eagles lead guitarist and solo artist, Joe Walsh, released what is most likely his best known song, titled, "Life's Been Good," which is actually a sarcastic response to the excesses of rock stardom. There's a catchy line in this song, where Mr. Walsh crows, "I can't complain....but sometimes I still do....life's been good to me so far."

These words ring so true with me as well, though I haven't achieved rock star status (not yet, at least.).  Now, last week was one of "those" weeks in which I've found a lot to complain about, though I really shouldn't.  On Monday evening, a kindly Mercer County officer pulled me over and informed me of a violation that I had committed, though, in my defense, I wasn't aware of it until I was pulled over.  On Friday, both our washer and dryer went to laundry heaven.  You may find it hard to believe that they would both die on the same day, but that's pretty much a norm in my world.  On Saturday, a half and hour before we were supposed to gather our youth together for bowling at Alpha Lanes, the bowling alley called us to inform us that the computerized scoring was down and that if we wanted to keep our reservation that we would have to either score by hand or simply play for fun.  And finally, on Sunday, the service engine light came on in our van.

Yep, it had been one of those weeks.  On top of everything, this week happens to be Holy Week, not the most accommodating week for flexibility in the church.  So I've spent a lot of time on the pitty potty this week.  But now, as I sit down to write this, I ask, "why?"  I got pulled over; I didn't have an accident.  The washer and dryer are replaceable and will be replaced tomorrow evening.  The bowling event was a blast; who needs to keep bowling scores when you've got highlighters and a black light?  The van is still running; it's a bit sluggish, but it's getting us from point A to point B until we can get it in to get serviced.

And so as I've stewed and felt sorry for myself over the past several days because of all of the inconvenient accommodations that I've had to make this past week and thinking that the world's against me, I can't help but remember that 2000 years ago that a Father made a rather inconvenient accommodation to reconcile a sinful, suffering world back to himself by giving his only beloved son unto death so that all of us can have eternal life.   My stuff's pretty small potatoes.

I can't complain....but sometimes I still do....life's been good to me so far.

Pastor Mark