Sometimes in our lives we encounter roadblocks-- some spiritual, others physical. Roadblocks are easy to recognize. The difficulty is in knowing what to do about them.

Sometimes you do the right thing or are minding your own business even, and you still get asked to leave.

"Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift..." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Last week, I blogged about The Committed Irishman, a man who had chosen to make the ultimate sacrifice-- his OWN ritualistic human sacrifice-- in 5th century Ireland. Some of you were appalled by my choice of topic, and wondered where I was going with this. Allow me to explain...

So here we have Paul-- a prisoner. Shipwrecked, cold, hungry. Was he saying "I told you so" under his breath the whole time, having warned the leadership and gotten ignored? Was he asking himself, "Could this Monday get any worse?" And then he gets snake-bit. I'm pretty sure I would have been a little cranky under the circumstances. But what does he do? He perseveres, and he serves. And then he starts healing people.

Some of my friends and family have wondered why God allowed me to get cancer, why God doesn't just heal me, as He clearly is able to do. I think one of His reasons is that the other prisoners are listening! He wants me in this place for a season, to pray and to sing and to write. Not for me (okay, maybe for me) but also for them!