Conclusions

Yesterday, I came across a book in my friend Jess' classroom - Happily Ever After: A Book Lover's Treasury of Happy Endings. This morning, I nestled myself into my couch with a cup of coffee and read it straight through. What a sweet time to reflect on the beauty of redemption and the ultimate happy ending we can anticipate. Allow me to share a few of my favorites...

But what a lucky man. Some luck lies in not getting what you thought you wanted but getting what you have, which once you have it you may be smart enough to see is what you would have wanted had you known. He takes deep breaths and the cold air goes to his brain and makes him more sensible. He starts out on the short walk to the house where people love him and will be happy to see his face.

-Garrison Keillor, Lake Wobegon Days


"I wonder where the old Pinocchio of wood has hidden himself?"

"There he is," answered Geppetto. And he pointed to a large Marionette leaning against a chair, head turned to one side, armas hanging limp, and legs twisted under him.

After a long, long look, Pinnochio said to himself with great content: "How ridiculous I was as a Marionette! And how happy I am, now that I have become a real boy!"

-Carlo Collodi, The Adventures of Pinocchio


He sat at the folding table in the basement, pondering what Miriam had said. How he'd been discouraged when God didn't seem to be working, then when God did do something it made him mad. It occurred to Sam that he wasn't an easy man to please.

Upstairs, the Frieda Hampton Memorial Clock bonged nine times. He rose from his chair, rinsed his coffee up out in the kitchen sink, turned off the church lights, and walked down Main Street toward home.

Over at Legal Grounds, Deena Morrison was turning the sign from Yes, We're Open to Sorry, We're Closed. She waved through the glass at Sam as he passed. He smiled and waved back.

She cracked open the door. "Have you heard the news about Sally?"

"Yes."

"Isn't God good," Deena said. It was a declaration, not a question.

Sam smiled and nodded his head in agreement.

God is good, he thought. Bewildering, but good.

-Philip Gulley, Just Shy of Harmony