Have you ever gone somewhere with high expectations, only to return disappointed because things didn’t work out the way you had hoped they would?
In the song Lamento Borincano, el jibarito, a farmer or country man in Puerto Rico, is on his way to the city to sell his merchandise. With high hopes and light steps, he imagines all the wonderful things he will have money to buy: a new dress for his wife, food, all that his family needs. His joy is so contagious, even his horse seems happy.
But all that changes when he reaches the city and is slapped in the face with the sad reality of the Great Depression. No one buys what he is selling, and unable to earn any money, he returns home deflated, despondent, and discouraged. “What will become of my family? My country? My life?” Thus, the song ends. He lost hope. He went home much differently than how he had left. He left home joy-filled but returned sad and empty handed.
Another man, a nobleman, made a similar journey, but with a twist:
He travelled to a nearby city to find his only chance of hope, someone who could heal his son. “His heart was heavy with sorrow. The sunshine seemed cruel to him, the songs of the birds, a mockery.”* With each step, he wondered what would happen to his son. Was the supposed Healer as great as people said?
When he finally arrived, he was surprised to see a Man in simple attire, perhaps not the look he expected. Could this Man really do anything? Would the nobleman's journey have been wasted?
His life was soon changed when he received the assurance that his son was healed.
He had come with one purpose: find help for his son.
But he returned home with so much more: peace, joy, healing for his son and faith in God.
He found what he came for and so much more!
His homeward voyage was vastly different than the start of it:
“How different his feelings now! All nature wears a new aspect. He sees with new eyes. As he journeys in the quiet of the early morning, all nature seems to be praising God with him.
The nobleman left the Savior’s presence with a peace and joy he had never known before. Not only did he believe that his son would be restored, but with strong confidence he trusted in Christ as the Redeemer.” - D.A. 199
Two journeys, two completely different outcomes.
One story ends in sadness, the other in great joy.
What will your story be?
*from Desire of Ages p.199
P.S. You can read the full story in the Bible - John 4:46-53.
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