Toad in the Toilet?

When the kids were little we took turns praying at meals. John was known as ' John the Confessor' since he used to pray, "Thank you for this food and today I broke .... and I push my brother and...." He was an honest and penitent little guy. There have been many examples of his truth telling over the years. When Chris was in Kindergarten and John was in 3rd grade, they attended a childcare program before school so I could get to work on time. John told me the caregivers yelled and let only one boy use the computer. One day he reported this child had thrown him up against a locker and the adults did nothing. I found these stories hard to believe. Surely John was exaggerating? I did not want to have to search for another childcare situation. I did not want to believe what he said. Then another mother reported that she had contacted the police to get an order of protection for her son who had been hit by the same child. I was filled with remorse. How could  I have doubted John? I immediately hired a woman to come to our home and care for the boys before and after school. Given that John has a history of integrity and honesty you may be wondering why we didn't believe him when he reported there was a toad in the toilet. We lacked faith and like the disciple Thomas demanded to see proof in order to believe. Jim, Chris and I went in to the bathroom to investigate and poked the murky brown water in the toilet which failed to move, even a bit. We concluded it was not a toad much to John's chagrin.  John insisted it had jumped but we laughed at his imagination. That was a month ago. Recently, John insisted we all come to view another toad in the toilet and sure enough it was (see photo). Just the other day the Ellington's who stayed at our home in January asked if we had ever seen a toad in our toilet..... Dustin had tried to catch it but it dove before he could grab it. This toad episode gives new meaning to things we learned growing up. "Put the lid down." "Always flush." "Be aware (beware) of your surroundings." "Look before you leap."Yesterday Jim told us of several families that have found cobras in the kitchen or pantry this rainy season. I think I would rather stick with toads.

Musings on faith, health, and healing

Last Sunday we went to a local church where there was a testimony given by a woman whose sister in law had recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. She shared how the woman and her husband decided to have faith and not have the surgery as recommended by her doctors. Indeed they seemed to see the idea of using standard medical care as a sign of weak faith, and a sure way to jeopardize miraculous healing.

It pained me to hear such a testimony.  The woman clearly understood her healing to be dependent upon her (and her family and friends) faith and prayers; if she demonstrated enough faith by eschewing medical care and praying earnestly, she would be healed. It did not even occur to her that God might actually work through the medical people in her life.

It reminded me of one definition of an idol - an object used to manipulate God. In essence she had made her prayers and behavior an idol - she was trying to manipulate God. And yet, isn't it appropriate to have faith? Doesn't God promise that we can do greater things than even Jesus, now that we have the Holy Spirit? Aren't we told in the book of James that we should have elders lay hands on us and pray and we will be healed?

And yet has there been a single Christian since Jesus' time here on earth who has not died? And haven't many (most)of the faithful servants of the Lord in the last 2000 years suffered at some point in their lives? Were the apostles just weak in their faith, all but John suffering a martyr's death? Am I weak in my faith when I suffer, when those around me suffer and die despite my prayers? Can my faith handle the reality of suffering and death?

I realize a blog spot is not the place to fully discuss the theological nuances of such difficult questions, but I was glad for the chance to have a good conversation with my children about faith, God's love, suffering, and death.

I find great comfort in two Old Testament books - Job and Daniel. In Daniel 3:17-18 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are about to be thrown into the fiery furnace for refusing to worship the idol king Nebuchadnezzar had created and they said (words I hope to be able to say in times of deep suffering), "If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, we will not serve your gods or serve the image of gold you have set up." I hope to say to Satan - "God is able to rescue me from this suffering and illness, but even if he does not...I will serve Him alone."

The other book, Job, is a beautiful piece of literature and deserves attention from all people of faith.
My quick take away message is that I am not God, I will likely never fully understand God's ways, but that is okay, and as it should be. I took great comfort in reflecting upon Job some 23 years ago when my first born was seizing in the neonatal intensive care unit clinging to life, and my wife was re-admitted to the hospital with post-partum infection/sepsis. I remember standing in the call room in the hospital praying to God and saying, "You are God, in control of this universe, may Your will be done, and may I have the strength to endure it..."

May we all cultivate a faith that believes in the miraculous yet accepts God's will and refrains from trying to manipulate God.