Can troubles sometimes actually be good?

Last night, I was chatting with wife about often times when everything is good, I tend to forget about keeping the 'main thing' the 'main thing'! I think most people really can be quite forgetful sometimes..., this is why we often repeat history again and again. I suppose every generation just have to learn the lessons themselves. And surprisingly, sometimes it's during crisis... such as during the aftermath of 9-11 or Katrina... that tend to bring out the best in people. Those tragedies tend to remind folks what's really important in life. People are usually more willing to do what God want us to do during those situations... It's interesting how sometimes we need those 'reminders'...

Psalm 71:20
Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.

Yeah, thank God that there is a loving God, who's around to help us... so that we can actually afford to make mistakes and learn from it... so that we can actually rise out of our troubles and actually become better than before!

Today, besides the slumping economy in the US, besides the laid-off and perhaps eve hungry and cold folks around the nation... There's also fighting at the Gaza strip. Will the Jews and the Palestinians ever figure out a way to love one another? Don't know, but I'm surprised to hear that there are people... and even brain surgeons, waiting around in Egypt to help the casualties. The doctor is waiting until either Israel clear aid workers into Gaza... or until the cease fire. Hmm..., very passionate about helping those in need I suppose. (But I'm forced to wonder how is he supporting himself? He must be rich I suppose! And what about patients in peaceful areas? When will they get their surgery?)

Also heard over NPR saying that Mexico is in disarray... with the drug cartels possibly becoming more powerful than the government itself. City of Juárez, very close to El Paso Texas, have people suffering from violent deaths regularly. Police are corrupted, So government sent in the army..., but now the army is also corrupted! Now, they are actually killing off the uncorrupted policemen! Their local daily newspaper is filled with pictures of dead bodies... and also full of ads with nearly naked ladies. The town is messed up. Mexico itself may be messed up too. It seems that the more the government tries to fight, the more violent the cartel becomes. Of course the drugs are being sold in the US... sooner or later, it's going to effect us. Surely it'll bring US national attention when one or two Americans end up dead... And I'm actually surprised that Mexicans are actually pretty "spiritual" about it. Over the radio interview, he said, ' God is going to do something about it!'

May it be so!

(Psalm 71-75, 173.4 lbs, $1.959)