Have you  ever ignored trouble hoping it would just go away?

In college I got my first credit card.  It had a whopping $500  limit.   Over time (hmmm-within a year I’m sure!) I “whittled” that $500 to an available balance of zero.  And then preceded to  ignore the credit card statements that came to the dorm room every month.  I was hoping trouble would go away and that credit card company would just forget all about ‘lil ol me.  I mean, c’mon what is the big deal anyhoo?  $500.00?  Dang, that’s nothing!  My friend down the hall had $10,000 racked up of cd’s and clothes, so my trouble is -in the words of Sinead O’Connor- NOTHING COMPARED TO YOU!  And anyway, it is the credit card companies fault for giving a college student with no income a card in the first place!  Not my fault.

What trouble have you found yourself in?

“Oh, it’s not THAT bad, I  know people that do meth like it’s going out of style, a little pot won’t hurt.”

“Drugs are bad, but Beer doesn’t hurt anybody!”  I’m not THAT bad.  I only swear a little.  I only lie on my taxes  a little.  I  only spend a little.   And anyway, I work hard, don’t I DESERVE a little fun?”

We try to get as close to the line between right and wrong all the while justifying, minimizing and just plain LYING TO OURSELVES because we assume we miss out on the fabulous party that happens on the spider’s silk tightrope between the dichotomies

I pray we can all admit that  trouble is a fact of life for everybody- a fact to be understood and dealt with. When we begin to deal with our trouble in partnership with God’s grace, trouble turns into unimaginable blessings.

Indeed, that was  the essence of A.A. itself: trouble accepted, trouble squarely faced with calm courage, trouble lessened and often transcended. -Bill W.

Jesus found himself  in the worst kind of trouble. Pharisees hunting him down.  Friends deceiving him. Sorrow plaguing him.

“Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My father, if there is any way, get me out of this.  but please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”- Matthew 26:39

Jesus’ trouble, by God’s great grace, turned into the most unimaginable blessing to EVERYONE thereafter that is willing.  Willing to do God’s grace.  Willing to face trouble.  What are you willing to look square  in the face today?