a different perspective

Henry was walking quickly down the sidewalk one sunny summer afternoon. He had finished his chores and so his mother had let him go out to the park to play baseball with his friends before Dad came home for supper. Henry was quite excited about this adventure but he stopped suddenly when he passed the white church and saw his pastor sitting on the steps with a downcast expression on his normally joyous face. 

    "Hi Pastor Clay," Henry greeted him as he came to a complete stop just on the other side of the white fence. 

    "Hello Henry," Pastor Clay's answer was sad. 

    "How are you today?" Henry asked again, hoping all was well so that he could go play. 

    "Oh alright," Pastor Clay answered.

    With all his might Henry wanted to nod and smile and be on his way...but he couldn't. Instead, he lifted the gate's latch and walked over to the step. Once there, he seated himself beside the pastor. They were an odd looking pair, Henry in his ripped overalls and the pastor in his best suit and tie. Henry's hair peeked out under his baseball cap and his face was dirty while the pastor was clean and well kept.

    They sat there in silence for a long time until Henry broke it. He had either had enough of sitting or he wanted to go play baseball before Dad came home, either way he asked a question that grown-ups wouldn't dare ask so bluntly. "Well, did somebody die?"

    Pastor Clay looked down at him and then across the road. "Nope."

    "Someone's dog die?"

     "Nope,"

     Henry thought, "someone's goldfish? It couldn't have been a cat because you wouldn't be sad about that." 

     Pastor Clay looked down at the concern filled eyes of the boy. "No, nothing died."

     "Then why are you moping?" 

     Again Pastor Clay turned his attention to the boy. "Because today is a very bad day. You'll understand more when you're older." 

     Henry thought for a moment. "You know, things are rarely as bad as they seem. I mean, everyone was sad when Jesus died and it was actually a really good thing that He did die." 

    The pastor looked at the boy. "Thank you Henry. That is an excellent point." 

    Henry smiled. "You're welcome." He stood and walked to the gate, went through it and went on his way to play with his friends.

     The pastor watched the boy walk away. He stared up to heaven and started to whisper a prayer. "Thank you Heavenly Father. Sometimes we need to be reminded that You are in control even when we don't understand. Please grant me a heart of trust so that I can see Your hand in the good as well as the bad. Amen."