It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Last night, the New Orleans Saints beat the Vikings in overtime to go to their first ever Super Bowl. What an exciting time in Louisiana!! We watched most of the game at some friends' home, but we were home for the fourth quarter and overtime. We could hear fireworks going off throughout our neighborhood, kids playing outside at 10 p.m. There was excitement in the air. I thought about how neat it is that God allowed us to be in Louisiana for such an exciting time. Then I couldn't help but think about some other amazing things He's allowed us to experience here. I thought back to the days following Katrina and hearing (instead of fireworks) helicopters fly over our house toward New Orleans all day long. New Orleans has truly been at its worst and best during our time here. And like any city or country that experiences triumph or tragedy, people are quick to attribute both to God's favor. When Katrina happened, some people said God was punishing New Orleans for its corporate sins. Now you hear people talking about God's favor. Don't get me wrong. Maybe God is a Saints fan :) But maybe we all just experience joy and sadness in this life. And it's not because we are more or less deserving, or because God loves us more than the next person or city. In Matthew 5:45, we are told that God "causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and send his rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Praise the Lord. I don't know about you, but I find myself in the latter category a lot more often than the first. And I know I sure want to be in that number....When the Saints go marching in! Who Dat!!