“And we know that God causes all
things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called
according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28);
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness
for light and light
for darkness; Who substitute bitter for
sweet and sweet for bitter! (Isa. 5:20).
Hey gang: As
a little squeezer one of my favorite memories of my past centers of those trips
to a place called the Ivy-side amusement park.
It was in a place that was very special to me called Juniata Gap. A trip on the Rolla-coaster was an indescribable
delight to this pint sized kid and a trip down what was to me a gigantic water
slide in the massive pool a memory that I shall never forget.
And then the
tragedy of all tragedies happened, the amusement park closed its door for the
last time and the property sold to a University. I will never forget that day, it was like someone
dumped ice water over my entire body. It
was a sadness that I thought would never be succeeded by any other experience.
But that is
no longer true. My heart is filled with
anguish and pain today because that university, that also became a great love
in my heart was Penn State. I remember
many times when we drove up to “Happy Valley” just forty miles over the
mountain from Altoona, my home town, and enjoyed the beauty of the valley where
the main campus is located and how I
longed to one day be able to be a Nittany Lion fan as a student.
I prayed
Lord, how can you make this work for your glory, how can you turn this evilness
into something good. And then Saturday
came and in Happy Valley. In football
seasons the world stopped and the gridiron became the only thing that
existed. The question from the outside
world was “should the game be played”.
But I believe God had already prepared the way for His healing process
to begin.
As the
Nittany Lions came on the field they did not run on as usual with their beloved
coach in the lead, they came locked armed to show ‘Yes, there was a tragedy
here’ but we are not going to lay down and allow Satan to use it as an
albatross around our necks. The student
body had made a massive and wonderful decision, they would not wear white as a
sign of Nittany Lion Power but blue as a sign that we come before you Lord with
a united contrite heart and compassion for those who have been wounded.
And then the
high point of that afternoon in Happy Valley, as the captains approached the
center of the field for the traditional coin toss both sidelines were cleared
as both players and coaches ran to the center of the field where they embraced
the opposition and then all two hundred of the gridiron warriors from both
sides bowed before the Lord seeking that He would take this hideous
transgression and make it work for His good.
Yes, my
heart is heavy this morning but the sun is shining through the window and I
believe with all my heart that God began the process of healing in Happy Valley
on Saturday. Is that not the wondrous
beauty of being a child of God and knowing that He can take even the grossest
of our errors and use them for His glory?
Blessings,
Gramps
No comments:
Post a Comment