You're a good man....

I received a blessing today from a dear old friend and it got me to thinking about myself and the words that were said, or should I say, words that were written. Five little words, "You are a good man" I know that these words were meant in love and with the greatest sincerity and yet for some reason I found myself feeling a little uneasy. And though I was very flattered and thankful for such kind words, I sat and thought about myself and whether or not I was in fact a good man.

Life is fragile and brief and there are as many paths as there are people. Yet, the path that many of us, including myself, tend to go down is the one that is easy, selfish, prideful, broad and full of sin. And for a time, even an extended period of time, this path seem like the right one, even for Christians.

Unfortunately, this path, though wide, is congested, plagued with pot-holes, barriers, detours, speed traps and utter destruction. There are so many people on it going so many directions that it's impossible to know where you're going, how to get there and there is nobody directing traffic. And pretty soon it becomes very evident to those on it that they must direct themselves, they must fight for what is theirs and at times, they must bully or manipulate or scheme or do whatever they have to do just to keep moving forward.

Sadly, this path has many side roads, tunnels, turnoffs and underground parking that can take someone headed in the wrong direction and make them truly lost.

I'm a regular guy--Husband, Father, Friend, Coach, who not only was a regular on this path but an expert of sorts. I knew all the haunts, the places to hide, the wide open spaces and sadly, the darkest corners where nobody speaks, where anger and hate are king and if you're not careful, you won't make it out alive.

I almost didn't make it out alive or should I say, I was finally made to live once God swooped down and rescued me. It didn't come without a price, though. There were plenty of heartaches and trials and just when I thought I couldn't take it, when I thought God wasn't there and when all I held dear was on the verge of being gone, God revealed Himself to me in a way I had never seen. And in that final blow, that knockout punch, I stood at that fork in the road. For the first time I took that step down the narrow and sweet path that leads to forgiveness, acceptance, grace, freedom, direction and love....lots of love! And the greatest thing about it is there is someone there directing traffic. The road map is clear, the signs are posted and easy to read and just as "Jill" in my GPS says "Recalculating" when I take a wrong turn, God in His kindness does the same!

This is what I though about today when hearing that I was a good man. And for a while as I sat there and thought about my own life I was disheartened by my own shame, by the mistakes I have made and the ones made to me. However, the good news is that the broken road has been paved over and that narrow path, the path I am on is filled with a sense of direction and hope.

I think Oscar Wilde said it well, "What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessing in disguise" Truer words could not have been spoken!

You are a good man, Chad, now seems to have a sweet sound in my ear as I reflect on how I got here. And make no mistake about it, I am a good man but not because of what I have done. It's not because of the things I say or do or how much I give of my time or talents or gifts...no, I am a good man because of what was done for me. And the greatest blessing I could receive in the compliment given today isn't because it makes me feel good....which it does, but because I know that others, like my friend, see something different in me. Sure, they see a man, a husband, father and friend but what I hope they see and what I think my friend today saw was Christ reflected in me....which is the greatest compliment that I could ever get!

Thank you, Dana!
~CJ