What's It All About?

What is truth? -- the question of the ages. Someone told me the answer yesterday. It did not come from the pulpit, or for some renowned scholar or philosopher.

The message was delivered by a young man I watched grow up across the street. He was a good boy, although I never thought him particularly wise. He took good care of his family. When his mother’s robe caught fire, causing severe burning, he looked after her for several months. When his sister suffered from ovarian cancer, he cared for her too, as he did for his father when lung cancer struck.

He worked 24/7 days a week to establish “Cruisers”, a restaurant in SE Portland. The restaurant was a success, but Carl wanted more. He flew to Honduras to find his bride, Maria. He brought her to Portland, bought a fine home, and fathered two beautiful children, now aged 4 and 5.

He is now in his early fifties. What makes him an expert about life? How is he different from you or me? He is not. It is simply that he understands what many of us do not.

About two months ago, Carl was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. It is in his lymph glands as well. Since he can no longer swallow, a feeding tube has been inserted in his stomach. If he chooses to eat for the pleasure it gives, he must spit out what he chews. Anything that goes down comes right back up. He is beginning chemo therapy. If it works he may have as long as a year to live. His life has become a round of visiting nurses and doctor appointments.

So what was it that he told me? Amazingly, Carl is not devastated by his fate. He believes in a “loving God”. His trust is certain. Totally upbeat, he told me that “Faith is what it’s all about!”

I thought of the hucksters who tell us that with good looks, talent, wealth, fame, romance, travel, the latest ipod, etc., happiness is ours for the taking. Alas happiness is not that easy to obtain. Like the butterfly, happiness is elusive. It may flutter nearby, but fear or discontent will drive it away. When you are screaming in anger or crying in self pity, it is nowhere in sight.

However, for those who know Carl’s secret, the one he shared with me, happiness often settles softly on their shoulders. Faith in a loving God delivers peace to the soul, no matter what the situation and that is an important truth.