“And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” – Romans 5:3-5
Stop talking, Paul.
You had me there at
“We have peace with God.”
That’s good. That’s great.
That’s all I want (or need?)
to hear. Stop there.
You can’t just stop
there, can you?
“We boast in our afflictions” –
but complaining isn’t boasting.
“Affliction produces endurance” –
unless it kills your spirit, Paul.
“Endurance produces character” –
it also fosters hubris.
“Character produces hope” –
is hope the same as resignation?
“And hope does not put us to shame” –
well, Paul, I’m with you there,
as long as you do not expect me
to assume I’ll get just what I hope for.
You can’t stop talking, can you?
Still, I’m grateful that you looped
back round again to God’s salvation.
We’re reconciled by Christ’s gift of self.
We’re saved because we share Christ’s life.
But now, be still – not Paul, but me.
If Tarsus’ famous correspondent can run on,
the same is true of those of us less known.
Stop, Eric, for we’ve made the crucial point:
We have peace with God.
ordainedgeek 
Wow … and there you have it (and I am preaching on Sarah) who wasn’t still, but also didn’t give advice) Maybe I will have to change.
I’m not sure how I chose Romans over Sarah’s laughter – I did that a few weeks ago. Now I can’t remember what I was thinking at the time. It turns out Sarah’s laughter brings a lot to Paul’s earnestness.
Love this, with it’s quirky humour and ironic circling back to you. I was only thinking a day or so ago as I read that reading that someone should challenge that pretentious list of the values of suffering with the equally possible darker alternatives, so those of us who aren’t superheroes can feel included! Thank you!
Thank you and you’re welcome! That list of “this produces that” assertions has had me saying, “It might – but not always” for years. I can’t imagine that the person who complained about “super apostles” didn’t know that from personal experience, you know?