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Soul Stir

Embrace the Suck

September 13, 2021

In the military, there is a saying, “Embrace the suck”. In military jargon, this means to consciously accept or appreciate something that is extremely unpleasant but unavoidable.

This is the grind of this life – at times, extremely unpleasant but unavoidable. Hard, tough, a grind – but not without a purpose for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ – being woven together for good.

 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, 
for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28

As Christians, we can consciously accept and appreciate the grind of life, no matter how unpleasant, because we know that the grind is being worked out for good. That good can be in this life – working out of us character defects like addiction, pride, self-sufficiency, anger, etc., or polishing character traits like kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc.  The good also lies ahead for us, as Paul points out in Romans 8:18:

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

This is why we can live like there is something far greater ahead, why we can carry a fork. This story is not mine; it is all over the internet if a few different versions - this version came from Facebook:

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So, as she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, which scriptures she would like read, and which outfit she wanted to be buried in. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What's that?" came the pastor's reply.
"This is very important," the young woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."
The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.
"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young woman asked.
"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on, I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who need encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming ... like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!"

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?" Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork ... the best is yet to come."

The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman goodbye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She knew that something better was coming.

At the funeral, people were walking by the young woman's casket, and they saw the cloak she was wearing, and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the pastor heard the question, "What's with the fork?" And over and over, he smiled.

During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died. He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it, either.

He was right. So, the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come.

Life can be a grind … but we know that God is working all things together for good – now and in far greater degrees - for all of eternity.

-Pastor Brian

 

 

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