Mountaintop Musings: Finding Balance in the Swings of Life

I must say that I have really enjoyed the World Series so far this year.

Of course, I am rooting for the Houston Astros and by now they may well be the champions. If not, they and the Washington Nationals are playing tonight in game 7. Either way it will be some fantastic baseball, many will be ecstatic, and many will be disappointed. Of course, we are sitting here with low temperatures and lots of snow starting to pile up; not exactly baseball weather is it? Again, many will like that, but others it is not so good.

That is our lot in life it seems. We are people prone to extreme emotions and feelings.

Just think of hunting season. Already many have “punched a tag” either on an antelope, deer or elk. They have been on the mountain top (no pun intended!) of joy! If they bagged an elk in a bad spot they also have been on the side of “Wow, this is way too much work and pain.” One of my sons this weekend told his wife, who was out on her first Opening day elk hunt, “Sometimes with elk hunting it is all about suffering.” That brings a smile to my face because I have used those words on the six hunters Lisa, and I have raised. But when you are eating that backstrap in April it is nothing but sweet memories, right?

Yes, it seems often those things that bring us the greatest joy can also deliver true anguish to our souls. The day some of you said your marriage vows was amazing. But then came the day of loss when the divorce was final. For others it may be the joy of pregnancy, and the excitement of becoming Mom or Dad. Then there was the miscarriage, or complications and your joy turned to grief.

Maybe it is the sweet communion of friendship for many years and one day that friend who was your BFF looks at you as Public Enemy #1. These are just a few examples of what we all get to face in life isn’t it? We try to help someone, and it all goes sideways. I do not know what your greatest trial or pain in life is, or what it is your fear. But I know Someone who does. He knows the pain of betrayal better than we do. He knows the sadness of a family member turning their back on you. He knows the sorrow of a close friend selling out. He knows the sting of false accusations better than us.

This One who knows all things, also knows the joy of family, friends, success and restoration. He knows the cure for the ills of life. As you very well know by now, this One is the Creator who hung the stars and names them. He is the One in whom we live and move and have our being. He is the One whose nailed scarred hands reach out to us every moment of every day offering solace and understanding. He is, yes you guessed it, Jesus!

So, as we move in to fall and winter, as you think of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I hope you will think of Jesus. He is the giver of all true blessings. Do you know that He is searching for you at this very moment? He is not willing for any to perish but that all would come to Him in faith. He is, or should be the focal point of Christmas, and of each one’s life. Coming to faith in Jesus does not mean we will immune to the swings, and extremes of our emotions. It does mean that we will have a Secure Foundation to come back to when the storms of life have stalled out over our hearts like a Category 5 hurricane in the Bahamas.

Thanks for reading this column and feel free to call me any time.

(Dave & Lisa Carroll are area missionaries with InFaith, America’s oldest Christian home mission agency. You can contact Dave at 406.459.8935 or [email protected])