YES AND NO

Life may not be black and white, but there are plenty of times when an event can be the bearer of both black and white in terms of both good and bad news. These are the times when our dreams flutter in the Neverland of vagueness, not quiet becoming true and yet not being totally hopeless either. They are the bittersweet snacks of the soul whereby we consume them for the sugary goodness flavor, but fully aware it will probably sour our stomach.

One has to struggle in the yes and no moments with the exasperation of asking, “Why me? How come my dream can’t either just come true or whither and die? Why does it have to end up such a wasteland where there is still a horizon to reach.

When you do finally reach that horizon, all the waiting and stress doesn’t necessarily bring euphoria as much as a sigh of relief. That is never quite the way emotionally we anticipate the ending of a dream to come. We want the pristine smile of our fantasy fulfilled completely and perfectly.

Yet we know if we live long enough that is not the way of life and certainly not the life of faith. Despite our desires and prayers, God just doesn’t sprinkle our lives with any level of perfection. It all remains within the boundaries of the realm of reality where if dreams come true they are subject to flaws.

Still despite the stumbling and detours, faith doesn’t have to diminish. Questions about the merit of why in a given situation may not come as we wish. Not in this life, but in due season God will surely answer that prayer when we are in his eternal light.

Will that satisfy the thirsting and aching soul? Probably not in all cases. And when the yes and no does come, there is one thing we can rejoice is in knowing how God will not desert us. He can comfort us. If only with a spiritual hug that will give us a peace to keep trusting to that day of reunion when the light restores what this current darkness has taken away.

For some it will never be enough. What is the Lord’s testing of our heart and faith becomes only a heart ache from which they never recover.

Yet through it all we are not alone. We have a host in Heaven as our witnesses and there will always be the invisible hands of the Lord’s Heavenly messengers that will touch us when we think we are totally alone.

From pain and confusion can come a calm. For the believer it is available in Christ. We need not be perfect of have all the answers. We may not be spared from the angst of yes and no situations, but the Lord’s sweet hush from his spirit can still grant us a breath of hope to venture one more step and one more day.

May the Lord grant all who seek him the quiet joy of knowing he will give us the strength to pass through the moments of yes and no. And the willingness to find what spiritual whispers will give our soul joy in the process.