today, i am thankful that i was laid off.
it’s a choice, more than a feeling.
i cannot, no matter how much effort i apply to the task, think of a single challenging, painful, or hurtful experience in my life, whether by my own doing or done to me, that i would now wish away. i cannot think of one of those that god didn’t use for growth or benefit or shift or some other good purpose.
i cannot believe that this current situation would be an exception to that rule.
so, today, i choose to be thankful that i was laid off, in the belief and hope (the christian kind of hope that is, more equal to confidence than wishing) that this is all very, very good. in 5 years, i won’t be willing to trade this for the world.
(looking forward to a houseful of 20 thanksgiving dinner guests today, also!)
Marko, I’ve just recently gotten wind of all the change in your life as of late. After reading much of your entries for the past month it is apparent that God is at work and has you right where He wants you. Keep trusting friend. He has been impressing on me the significance of being convinced that He is good to the core of His being these past six months – in the midst of my attempts to control and rush. It’s just the answer I’ve needed – although the level of struggling depends on the day! May you be convinced of nothing so much as God’s best intentions for you and your family that He is working out as you celebrate and feast today. That’s right – celebrate and laugh my friend – they are a sign the battle has been won (whatever battle you’re facing).
Much love from the Tucker Clan and the youth of Ireland. We’ve appreciated your time, prayer and influence here very much the past decade. Every blessing in your labours and loves friend!
Hi Marko.
I am Jaime Peña, some of the youths who listened at you at the Convención Internacional de Liderazgo Juvenil de EJ, in Mendoza. I specially liked the workshop about postmodernism, and I really like all the audios I’ve heard from you. I can say I’ve learnt several useful things from you.
And, about the post…
I do understand you. I lived something similar some years ago.
And I can say the same thing you’ve said, although you don’t feel it. It is the same that happened to me.
Trust in God that He will wash your tears away, raise your head and make this painful experience into a blooming new ministry for you. You only have to wait and see.
Only trust God.
Maybe Psalm 37, Isaiah 41 or 53 may be helpful for you now.
I also leave you this song.
I strong recommend listening it (and if you have the whole disk, listen it too).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnb9Uj5YkR8
May God bless you. I’ll be praying for your consolation.
Jaime.
God Will Lift Up Your Head
http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/lyrics/new/track.asp?track_id=374
Redemption Songs
by Jars of Clay
Listen:
Lyrics:
Give to the wind your fear
Hope and be undismayed
God hears your sighs and counts your tears
God will lift up, God will lift up, lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head
Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command
Then shall we wandering on His way
Know how wise and how strong
How wise and how strong
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
Lift up your head
Through waves and clouds and storms, He gently clears the way
Wait because in His time, so shall this night
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
Soon end in joy, soon end in joy
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
God will lift up your head
traditional words by Paul Gerhardt (trans. John Wesley, alt. by Jars of Clay) / music by Jars of Clay / © 2005 Bridge Building, a div. of Zomba Enterprises, Inc. (BMI) / Pogostick Music (BMI).
Behind the Song:
Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) wrote this famous German hymn in the midst of the religious wars going on in his country during the 1600s. At one point, Gerhardt was kept from the pulpit because of the debates between Calvinists and Lutherans. Introduced to him by Moravian missionaries, Methodist founder and minister John Wesley was struck by Gerhardt’s hymn and translated it to English around 1737. More commonly known as “Give to the Wind Thy Fears,” the hymn illustrates the power of God’s comfort as it meets us in sorrow. Like Wesley, the band was affected by the lyrics and give it a kind of rock anthem treatment that’s energetic and stirring. “It presents with such confidence the idea that in the midst of our sorrow, in the midst of our pain, God will be the one to lift up our heads,” Dan Haseltine says. “We’ll always have suffering. We’ll always have pain. We’ll always have the poor. We’ll always have things that are confusing and hard to reconcile, and it will always be God that pulls us out of those places or helps us to understand why we’re in the middle of them.” (Jars Of Clay)
20? holy cow man! good luck with that!
happy thanksgiving!
Great perspective. I love Richard Rohr’s book on the subject: “Everything belongs.” God doesn’t waste anything.
I am thankful for everything you do and have done. Thanks Marko for being who you are – a real cool godly man..
I love the attitude! Sometimes, we need a kick in order to see new things and new opportunities that were just sitting there, but without the kick we would never even look.