Crucibles

The word crucible isn’t used all that frequently.  But the word came to mind in reference to what I want to talk about today.  Dictionary.com defines the word as “a severe test or trial or an extremely challenging situation.  This figurative sense of the word is based on the literal meaning of the word: a heat-resistant container used to melt metals” (found at this link under the "more about crucible" section of the webpage).  

It was eight years ago, this past Saturday, when we had the memorial service for my father.  This saga was a crucible.  Initially, I was going to share some of my thoughts on my dad’s legacy, grief, and the hope of Heaven.  But that content will be another day.  However, I do want to state – for the record – if I had to single out the most intensely difficult crucible in my life, it was my dad’s unexpected passing.  I continue to miss him, but I carry his example, humor, and virtue with me in my heart.

But as difficult as that season was, haven’t you discovered as I have, that there’s seemingly always another trial right around the corner?  For example, I recently shared that another dark season recently had come upon me.  I didn’t call it a crucible that day, but I did state that it was such a shattering time that I likened it to Humpty Dumpty falling off that wall.  I quoted a preacher who said that the King Himself had to put Humpty back together; that’s what God did for me.  I stand by that analogy, and I give Him all the glory for this!

It occurred to me that someone reading this might really be going through it.  You may be going through the worst crucible in your life right now.  You feel like you have been whacked around so much by life’s trials, you can hardly even tell which way is up.  If that’s you, I know what it’s like.  I’ve mentioned some examples of trials to make it clear that I’m not in some ivory tower, unattached from the crushing pain of life.  I’ve been there. 

As a matter of fact, I could write a whole blog about what has transpired in the last few days since I began writing this particular blog.  Although the situation isn’t fully resolved, I can state that in the pain, frustration, and loneliness, God has been so faithful.  He used Jordan St. Cyr’s song “Fires” to encourage me.  “You walked me through fires, pulled me from flames, if You’re in this with me, I won’t be afraid.  When the smoke billows higher, oh, and higher and it feels like I can barely breathe, I’ll walk through these fires, ‘cause You’re walking with me.”

Furthermore, Psalm 42 gives profound words of help to me, and I give them to you now.  The Psalmist was apparently going through it.  The heading in my NKJV Bible, right after the Psalm 42 heading, actually reads, “yearning for God in the midst of distresses.”  Psalm 42:5 says, “Why are you cast down, O my soul?  And why are you disquieted within me?  Hope in God.  For I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.”  In a few verses, in verse 11, he restates these words again for reminder and emphasis.  I can’t leave out verse 8: “The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me – a prayer to God of my life.”  There is hope and help in God. 

In conclusion, in the epic “Crisis on Infinite Earths” saga (the TV version from the CW), Superman gave us a memorable and stirring line.  Incidentally, since I’ve brought it up, the so-called “Arrowverse” had its flaws, I see them clearly.  But I don’t think enough credit is given to those involved in creating that shared TV universe of superheroes. 

Part 3 of the Crisis crossover event is where we are treated to Superman’s motivating words. Brandon Routh portrayed an older Superman who had tragically lost several loved ones.  But he chose hope over despair; he signified this mindset when he changed the color pattern in his iconic S emblem on his chest.  Rather than the yellow and red design, the yellow was replaced with black instead, with the red S.  When asked why he added black, he said, “Even in the darkest times, hope cuts through.  Hope is the light that lifts us out of darkness.”

God bless,

Kevin