Disappointment

My phone's health application is disappointed with me.

For three weeks, Dave and I were traveling around Scotland, doing LOTS of walking. The app would congratulate me for increasing the number of steps I was taking, usually 3-4 times my normal walking average.

But we're back home now, and my walking numbers are back to normal. And while my app hasn't notified me yet about a change in my trends, I anticipate the disappointment. (This would be a case of self-disappointment since I would like to walk more.)

As children, we sometimes disappointed our parents, through our actions, or by not living up to expectations.

As adults, we sometimes disappoint others through our actions or not living up to expectations.

As humans, we have been a regular disappointment to God: Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, the Exodus. The Bible is full of stories where people disappointed God.

But God has never given up on us. God has always provided second, third, and fourth chances and more.

Not to say that there hasn’t been punishment. In the Bible, there were banishments, exile, and an occasional massacre. In life, parents yell at their children, and co-workers respond with the silent treatment.

I’m hoping that my health app responds with the silent treatment. I really don’t want to be scolded by my phone.

“And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:2b-5)

- Ann Iona Warner