As the minutes dragged on into hours, we became increasingly more tired. First our flight was delayed by 20 minutes, then an hour, then two. Finally, the bright red CANCELLED flashed on the board next to flight 603. And with that we were stuck in Las Vegas. Yet this was just the latest twist in the adventure of trying to get home for Christmas. Icy roads. Delayed flights. Missed connections. It seems like we've had it all. It's one of those trips you just want to forget. Every part of it is just all wrong. I have to admit, I kept getting more and more upset. But every time I was overwhelmed by the rainclouds, my wife was there to bring the sunshine. "Good News," she'd say. When the security line was WAY too long and I thought we'd miss our flight, "Good News," she'd say, "we won't have to wait in the boarding area too long." When we got to Denver and realized that we'd missed our connection, "Good News," she said, "now we have time to get some lunch in the airport." When our flight was cancelled in Las Vegas, confirming we wouldn't make it to Portland that night, "Good News," she said, "now we can find a hotel and get a good night of sleep." At every turn, she was the bearer of good news and it made the trip much more bearable…even fun.
It got me thinking. Why is it that I choose Christianity over all of the other religious systems out there? Every religion has their own philosophy, their own holy books, their own traditions, their own beliefs. What makes Christianity different? For me, the answer is simple: Good News. In Christianity, the story ends with good news. There's room for forgiveness. There's room for God to work. But not only does it the story end with good news, it is infused with good news. At every turn, God takes tragedy, frustration, failure, and brings Good News. What a God we serve!
