No, And Its Fate is Still Unlearned
I ordered something online last week. While I wasn’t promised next day delivery, I was told to expect my package by Monday of this week. The shipper sent me a Post Office Tracking Number to monitor the progress of my order as it made its way from Portland, Oregon, to Auburn, Indiana. All was well until Saturday. The package had arrived in Indianapolis early Saturday morning and had just one short trip up Interstate 69 to Auburn, but instead it seems to have been put on the wrong truck or plane. It was in Houston, Texas, by dinner time Saturday and then made a middle of the night trip to a place called Missouri City, Texas, a Houston suburb. As I write, the Post Office thinks it may have left Missouri City, but apparently has no idea where it is now, certainly no idea when it might make it back to Indiana.
Yeah, 21st Century and first world problem. Still frustrating.
In my frustration I read an article about a Post Office-commissioned audit of the Indianapolis distribution center. Apparently, it is not all that unusual for packages headed for Auburn, Indiana, to take a wrong turn in Indianapolis and end up in a place like Missouri City, Texas.
So, I could rant about how nothing works anymore – you know, go postal. But it’s not true that nothing works anymore. Actually, it’s quite amazing how well things work. They work so well that a late-arriving package is really frustrating. What should I do with my frustration? I could write to the Post Master General (Ben Franklin, where are you when we need you) and complain about my mistreatment. I may fill out the feedback form at the USPS website. Or I can wait for my late package to arrive from its long trip – or deal with it if it doesn’t.
I understand that the frustration I am experiencing over a still-not-arrived package is pretty petty. It’s the smallest of mosquito bites in an otherwise wonderful evening around the campfire. It is the pea under the princess’ mattress. It’s a slightly undercooked steak at a celebrative dinner. I’ll not remember it.
The Shorter Catechism defines the human condition as one of sin and misery (Question 17). And though by God’s grace sin is now a defeated enemy, still the redeemed experience temporal misery as a consequence of our first parents’ fall from grace and our own sinful condition, misery much greater than a late-arriving order. Misery is not punishment for sins (specific disobedient acts) so much as it is a consequence of sin (the human condition).
What shall we do in a world of misery – of injustice and sorrow and pain? Shall we rail against it, raise our fists and tell the world we’re madder than heck and aren’t going to take it anymore? Shall we suppose our situation particularly unhappy and revel in our victimhood? Or shall we, like the Apostle Paul, turn our eyes upon Jesus, who “said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”? 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (ESV)
As I wait for my prodigal package, I’ve thought of that old Kingston Trio song about a man named Charlie who got stuck on the MTA. Did he ever return? No, he never returned, and his fate is still unlearned. If, like Charlie, my package never returns from Missouri City, Texas, grace will be more than sufficient for me.