Fifty-Two Card Pick Up
What was the question posed? It was a question offered to the lot of us sitting in circle formation.
“Do you want to play Fifty-Two Card Pick Up?”
Trusting the one asking—how could I not respond with a resounding “YES!” The others were mute and all eyes upon me. Not a word was whispered that would give away that which was about to happen.
As soon as the word “YES” was out of my mouth, the cards were quickly stacked. Within seconds, they were flung helter-skelter into the air.
“Okay,” said the orchestrator of this game. “There are fiftytwo cards. Now, pick em up!” And until these words were spoken, I hadn’t a clue as to what was going on.
Laughter ensued all around, and I knew I’d been hoodwinked.
Some days life seems more like a game of “Fifty-Two Card Pick Up.” Out of nowhere, a wind funnel appears—sending the hand delt flying here and there and all around. As things come tumbling down, who knows where the fallout will land. Some days it’s not so funny and rather than joining in with laughter, curling up to have a good cry seems like a better plan. As we become temporarily blinded by the storm swirling round, it stops us in our tracks. If we have the presence of mind to pause in the midst of the storm, we might recall what it is we are supposed to remember. What is it we remember? We remember that He created and we did not. And if He created, we need not fear. We need merely cling to the truth of the matter and what’s the matter with that? Answer: Nothing is the matter with that lest we forget to remember.
As I walked in the woods today, I noticed many a fallen tree. Bent and broken branches created the pallet upon which I was peering into. Beneath one tree was a hollowed-out crevice offering shelter for wildlife. Another tree hung precariously tipsy because its branches were caught by the tree next to it. Just below the tree catcher was a new tree sprouting—all because it had been given protective space in which to grow. And so it goes.
Who knows how and why things fall as they do? It matters not we know why—it matters Who knows why. He knows. Psalm 31:14 serves as a reminder that in the midst of things falling all around, there is a place we can place our trust. “But my trust is in you, O Lord.” Is. 41:10, 13 puts that which is fallen (namely all of us) into perspective. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with your right hand. For I am the Lord, our God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’” And He will because He said so. Amen.
