Deja Voux

Last night--yesterday afternoon--depending upon where you live in our world, the Nebraska Cornhuskers played Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, VA. We lost on a last second touchdown pass that obliterated an awesome defensive display by Nebraska that kept Tech on the run all night. But I guess we should take heart: back when NU was somewhat respected in the college football world, we won and won and won except when playing Oklahoma, Miami (FL), and Florida State. How many times in the 70s and 80s were we ahead, outplaying the aforementioned opponent and then suddenly, one desperation fling of the ball or a trick play and suddenly we were punched in the gut, down on the field, wondering how we possibly let the game get away. Then oftentimes the team we played the next week was obliterated by an NU team that wanted everyone to know they might have been sucker punched, but it wasn't going to happen again (until the next season, that is).

So, if NU comes back and obliterates it's next opponent and then smashes its way through the Big 12 schedule, we still have a chance for a more than respectable 11-1 or 10-2 regular season. Last night's loss is a tough one, but the way we play in the coming weeks will show whether we are truly back or not.

Not Typical

When one writes an autobiography of oneself, the author, the main character, usually includes all of the great things he/she did or accomplished when doing whatever he/she was noted for. "I saved the economy as President of the United States." "I led us to victory over the enemy as Prime Minister of England." Etc., etc., etc. And when the character has problems, faults, or crimes that cannot be hidden, even in an autobiography, that character usually glosses over the evil or blames it on someone else, i.e. Bill Clinton still blaming a "vast right wing conspiracy" for all of his problems while as president.

However, when one reads God's autobiography, the Bible, He does not tolerate such shennanigans or glossing over of history. God gives us pictures of all and everything, the good, the bad, the ugly, the joy, the tears, the heartbreak.

This became clear to me as I was recently reading the Book of Job, one of the more fascinating yet troubling books of the Bible. This book certainly raises as many questions as it might answer, but the thing that challenged me most was that God was not afraid to include the questions, the doubts, and the hurts of Job. A normal autobiography would never have the authors characters questioning the goodness, love, value, reasonings, etc. of the president or prime minister. But God allows us to see Job as we might be: "Why God, why is this happening? Give me a fair hearing and I will prove to you that I do not deserve these troubles. I don't know what I did to you God, but allow me to question you in court and find out the truth."

I am thankful we have a God who is not afraid of our questions, doubts, fears, etc. He already knows them anyway, so to think we can hide them from God is ridiculous. We may as well as go ahead and ask them and argue with God. And ultimately, sooner or later, we must then come to the conclusion that He is God, I am not, and He absolutely knows what is absolutely best for my life and the life of my family.