Have you ever had one of those days filled with so many ups and downs you didn’t know how to feel? I had that happen last Tuesday. I was in the office doing the things I usually do. I had to fight with our office software for about an hour before it would do what we wanted it to do. Then I got some bad news that a member wasn’t doing well. I had very little information to go on, so I had to do some sleuthing to find where they were. The good news is that they are fine and will be resting at home soon. Then some more bad news that another member had a death in the family. Then some good news when I submitted the minutes of the NIS Assembly and there were very few corrections. More bad news from a member regarding their health. And the day went on and on like that…up and down… up and down… Thankfully my day ended with a Cubs win over the Washington Nationals with a score of 17 – 3!

But isn’t that the way of life? Because Jesus was human, even he experienced it. One minute he is praised as the Son of God and the next minute he’s being called the Son of Satan. One minute it seems the disciples really get what he’s teaching and the next minute they haven’t got a clue what he’s talking about. One minute he’s riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to the shouts of “Hosanna!” and the next minute he is standing before Pilate bloody and bruised to the shouts of “Crucify him!”  Up and down… up and down… to say the least.

So, the question is how do we deal with those ups and downs? What if there are many more downs than ups? It would be easy to give up and go hide in bed with the covers over your head. I think the answer is in the twenty first chapter of the book of Revelation:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."

No matter what kind of day we’re having…ups and downs… all ups… or all downs… we have hope. Hope that one day we will be with God where every day, and everything will be perfect! All ups!

And just maybe, the Cubs will win the world series again!

See you Sunday!