Bittersweetness?! Is that a word?

While I am not an adherent of the Taoist philosophy of the Yin and Yang, I understand its appeal. Good and evil. Light and dark. Opposing forces that bring balance. Life has a way of mixing both the good and the bad in a grand boiling stew pot of human existence. Invariably, it seems, in our journey through this temporal life we are often met with the phenomenon of "two steps forward, one step back." We are often forced to consider that, but for this one little annoying thing, or, with that little systemic tweak, things could be better than they are. And then, woefully, we realize that some of these irritants are beyond our control or even our influence.

I think it is exactly these moments that the Apostle Paul was referring to when he said "I have learned to be content in all things." Let us all candidly admit that we are rarely content with anything, much less All Things. It took me a while to get it, but notice that Paul said he "learned" to be content. It did not come naturally for him any more than it does for us. But Paul knew, and apparently was better able to remember, that if God is sovereign, and I believe he is, then the "one step back" experience must be according to his plan, as well the two steps forward.

Unlike the Taoist, I am content to believe, and with good reason I think, that God IS in control, and not some ethereal life force. Perhaps that's where true contentment starts.