A Light for My Path

I wrote a few months ago about platitudes and how unhelpful I find them. They seem to me like trite words that brush aside how frightening and painful life can sometimes be. Especially when they imply that as Christians, we shouldn’t exhibit fear or worry or grief. Or any negative emotions. I have a friend who refers to these folks as practicing Sunshine Christianity.

A frequent phrase these perpetually smiling people like to use is:

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

I have had occasion when I was out in public or sitting at a café table and was deep in thought. Apparently in those moments my countenance is often somber, sad, or worried looking. A complete stranger will approach me and say, “why the long face?” or “cheer up, it can’t be that bad!”. They smile widely and encourage me to “brighten up!”

That irritates the heck out of me! Maybe I’m just pensive. Or perhaps I’m dealing with a serious challenge. Sure, you can sometimes make something good out of something bad or unplanned. The rain may have cancelled your golf game or a trip to the zoo with the kids. But you can put on a favorite movie or pull out a puzzle you’ve been saving. Pop some popcorn and still have a fun family day.

Cancelled flights or car trouble on your drive to a family wedding in another state aren’t so easily fixable. More painful events sometimes happen in our lives – job layoffs, divorce, chronic illness, mortgage foreclosure, death of a loved one. These aren’t lemons. These are tragedies. All the sugar in the world can’t take away their rottenness. It’s not helpful or kind to make light of them.

It’s even more unkind and unhelpful to imply that God’s people should or will always be happy, safe, and trouble-free. Which Bible are they reading? Many, if not most, of the Bible heroes – people hand-picked by God to do amazing things – suffered greatly before they received their final reward.

I do believe that my final reward is Heaven. I am secure in my eternal destination. But I’m not naïve enough to think I won’t face trials and tragedies in the meantime. And I won’t apologize or try to fake smiles when I am hurting, frightened, sad. Or sour.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!
I have overcome the world” (John 16:33)

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Laura