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Two years ago yesterday I sat across from Laura at an eccentric local restaurant and repeatedly stabbed a syrup-soaked pancake with my fork.

We were having a late breakfast together and discussing me meeting her parents later that week. It was the “define the relationship” talk and I was not suave or smooth. Mostly, I stabbed my pancake a lot and beat around the bush.

But because God is good and Laura was starting to really like me, it didn’t matter that I stabbed that pancake while I should have been shooting straight (except to tell as a funny story later).

God had his plan for me–a cute Florida blond who didn’t mind too much that I was chubby and who now loves me more than I deserve.

While I stabbed a pancake, God was doing a miracle. (Her name is Laura Slavich now).

These are not the same thing.

Contentment is being satisfied in God and his provision and portion at a given time.

Complacency is being satisfied in myself and apathetic toward the future.

I frequently confuse these, and assume complacency is contentment, or that desire for movement is discontentment. That is, I tend to do nothing and think I’m spiritual. Or I tend to want bigger and better things (like to be a pastor or, in past times, a husband) and assume that I despise God’s goodness.

Surely, there is a time for everything under heaven. A time to be single, and a time to serve coffee.

But it is not wrong, automatically, to want to be a husband and to be a pastor. In fact, both are good: “He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD” (from Solomon) — and — “This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of an elder/pastor, he desires a good work” (from Paul). And both are from the Lord, the good Father who delights to give good gifts to his children and his church.