I just received a text-message from a friend. His nineteen-year-old son has lost his passport and needs a new one to go on holiday in a couple of weeks’ time. He’d filled in the form online. Could I please confirm his identity…
Sometimes when things go wrong we need to take action to sort them out.
Our car has been making a strange whining noise for some time. We imagined exploding cars at inconvenient times, huge bills to pay… I booked it in at Andy’s garage. Yesterday Andy diagnosed the fault – wheel bearings. He replaced them. All is good.
Sometimes when things go wrong an expert is needed to diagnose the fault and fix it.
Yesterday I observed… A ten-year-old lad with significant problems couldn’t get his way and ‘kicked off’. Despite his shouts and bad behaviour his Mum remained calm. Others, aware of his problems, ignored him. The frustrated and angry young man ran off. ‘He’ll come back when he’s calmed down.’ Mum said.
Sometimes when things go wrong we leave them and they sort themselves out.
Yesterday was exam results day for 16-year-olds across the country. TV interviews with delighted young people and their parents involved their anxieties before their exams… fears whilst waiting for the results… results that have exceeded expectations.
Sometimes when we fear that things have gone wrong, they’re actually OK.
Yesterday I remembered this beautiful song from ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ Jesus has been arrested. Confused, upset, fearful, disillusioned… Peter, Mary Magdalene and the disciples sing: ‘Could we start again please’
Sometimes when things go wrong we want to start again. I think of folks in difficult situations at work, in their homes, with their health, in relationships… Things have gone wrong and they’d love the opportunity to start again.
In the Jesus narrative with Peter and Mary Magdalene things got much worse before they got better – wonderfully better. Sometimes when things go wrong, we just need to hang in there… for redemption, transformation, resurrection, and final joyful resolution.
malcolmsmusings.org 
Wonderfully insightful, Malcom. I’m old enough to have experienced something similar to each scenario you’ve described. Not long ago I found myself in a difficult situation that needed resolution quickly. Yet even after I prayed, no solution readily presented itself. My heart started beating hard in my chest. And then . . you guessed it . . . God intervened. It was obviously him, because of the timing–nothing and no one else. Such moments are downright exciting and euphoric! But they wouldn’t happen without the turmoil first.
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Thanks for sharing your story, Nancy, here and on your blog. I’ve certainly found it an encouragement.
I think that’s why I love the song, Nancy. Peter and Mary were convinced that Jesus had got it so wrong; it wasn’t until later that they discovered that He’d got it so right..
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Just need to hang in there – thanks for the reminder, Malcolm!
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I don’t know about you, Wynne, but sometimes that’s all I can manage – and that’s OK.
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That is my favorite song from the movie! I think we can all relate to that feeling. And you are so right, sometimes we just need to let things be… until the “joyful resolution.” Amen. Thank you!
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I’ve had different ‘favourites’, Karen. Initially, 50+ years ago it was ‘I don’t know how to love him’. At times I’ve identified with ‘Gethsemane’. I’ve tried to get inside ‘Everything’s Alright’ and ‘Last Supper’, but today I’m with you. It expresses the disciples’ mis-understanding of Jesus so well…
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