life's been good to me so far

I have officially survived 32 years on this earth. There have been spells when I wondered whether or not I would make it this far. But it seems that I have.

Thanks Mom for having me.

Sometimes in my mind a song will just pop-in. Usually it is things that I have listened to recently, but sometimes it is something that I haven't heard in a long time. There will be a certain set of circumstances or there will be a phrase that somebody says, but *pop* some random song will just erupt in full stereo in my brain.

Now I haven't told anybody this before, but for the last 6 months or so this song keeps popping into my head. The problem is that I only know one phrase from the song. It goes like this

"...life's been good to me so far!"

And with today being my birthday, it has been making frequent stops into my subconscious.

But you know what, it wasn't life that was good. In fact, in some ways life hasn't been good at all.

Life is hard.

From the moment you exit the womb, life is full of harshness and pain.

Oh, now don't get me wrong. I know that there are alot of good things in life. I am not one of those depressed poets or song writers that only displays the bad in life. In fact, those who know me would say that for the most part, at least with the big stuff, I'm pretty optimistic.

But my point is that it isn't life that makes things good. It is God.

Read this Psalm, and consider how David builds and builds on the hardness of life, but then in the last verse he remembers...

O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?

How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!

Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.
Don't let my enemies
gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!"
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.

But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
I will sing to the LORD
because he has been so good to me.

I hope that when you read this psalm, you will be reminded of the goodness of God. I hope that whatever trial or difficulty that God has allowed to enter your path, that you will still be able to see his goodness.