Small Potatoes

Friday, January 27, 2012

"Small potatoes"
From Bob

"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:17 KJV)

The above scripture passages are taken from The Message, a paraphrase, and the King James Version, a translation. While it is important to note the difference between a paraphrase and a translation, I often look at verses in a paraphrase because I enjoy that interpretation of the verse. Here, I like the phrase "These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times..."

It is not always easy to think of the hard times as small potatoes. It is easy to become frustrated or discouraged during hard times. This week a good friend passed away unexpectedly. Thankfully, because of her faith in Jesus, she is now enjoying the "lavish celebration" prepared for her. Another good friend was diagnosed with cancer. He will begin to walk the journey fortified by his faith, his family and his friends. My prayer list grows longer every week. Often, I forget that these are "small potatoes" because I lose my focus. Recently I completed one year of dialysis. I did the calculation and I spent 624 hours last year hooked up to a dialysis machine. Why would I waste my time figuring that out? Because I become obsessed with the "small potatoes."

The last part of that passage says that the things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever. Eternity, that's what we need to focus on! "I can only imagine" what eternity will be like.

I confess that it is often easier for me to understand that these are only momentary afflictions AFTER the moment has passed. It is not easy as we grieve the loss of a friend or loved one, or hear the doctor's diagnosis of cancer, to think in terms of light afflictions that will only last a moment. Our minds don't automatically go to the lavish celebration being prepared for us. But that is the promise of scripture!

This "nasty little disease" has lasted much longer than I thought it would. I have no idea how much longer I will live. Compared to eternity, this life on earth FOR EACH AND EVERYONE OF US is but a very brief moment. It is hard for me to say and even harder to live my life always believing it, but it is true - this "nasty little disease" is "small potatoes!"

This week was a small setback for me personally. Those precious "little princesses" I wrote about last week, turned out to be "carriers" of the cold virus. Patra and I both caught it. Jenny, Emily (who made a quick trip to Clearwater) Adam and Sharon got it. In addition to Avery and Megan, Riley, Anderson and Andrew got it. Yep, most of the Buggs got the bug.

I basically just had a cough. But every time I coughed it irritated my low back. I did get an injection into my mid-back and I go back in several weeks for another injection into my low back. My blood pressure dropped significantly at the end of dialysis on Wednesday so we had to use the wheelchair to leave the center. "Small potatoes!"

Dear God: Thank you for the preparations you are making for your people for eternity. Sometimes life is difficult. It is painful and we often despair. Yet, we have the hope of eternity! Help me to keep my eyes focused on You. Be with my friends who are hurting and in need. In Jesus name, Amen.

Until next Friday. God willing.
Bob