Living with uncertainty is a normal part of life

As I write these words, the future of the government of British Columbia is hanging in the balance. By the time this column goes to print, additional information will be known but I’m willing to bet the status of the political scene in B.C. will still be uncertain.

As I write these words, weather forecasters are predicting another windstorm which will stir up an already overflowing Okanagan Lake. Thousands of Central Okanagan residents are living with a daily dose of uncertainty.

As I write these words, my mother remains in hospice in Edmonton. Although she is on the verge of setting a record for a hospice stay, she fails a bit more each day. Our family has been living with uncertainty each time the telephone rings. Incidentally, the Lord willing, she and my dad will mark 73 years of marriage next week.

As I write these words, our world is facing unusual uncertainty. Who talked to the Russians, about what? Will NATO stand? Will Europe decide to go on its own? Will North Korea continue to antagonize? Will terrorists continue to emerge in the most unsuspecting places?

It all begs the question: “How does one live in uncertain times?”

It’s a more important question than it might appear to be on the surface. If it is only asked because of current, obvious uncertainties, then it is flawed at its core and misleading.

If it assumes things will settle down and then we can all get back to a normal, smooth life, then it does us no favour.

It is flawed if it assumes there are “other” times that aren’t uncertain and that we can live differently then.

However, if I read the Bible correctly, most of what we consider certainty is an illusion. If we’ve had a physical check-up, saved ahead for a rainy day and exercise daily, we are prudent, but not certain.

The ancient Psalm writer says that life is like grass. A hot wind blows and it withers. Many centuries later, the younger half-brother of Jesus wrote and cautioned against boasting even about what we’re going to do tomorrow. He says we don’t know and have no control over what’s going to happen tomorrow.

In plain language, certainty, the way we usually think of it, doesn’t exist.

If these principles from the Bible are true, and I guess I tip my hand that I’m one who believes they are, then our current uncertainties have the potential to do us a huge favour.

They let us know that the other days we long for, the certain days, are in fact a myth.

Political instability and rising flood waters simply make obvious what is true all the time. Life, by definition, is uncertain.

Present circumstances force us to look deeper and longer term. They force us to analyze what elements in life are not impacted by the current deluge of uncertainty. They make me ask, “What goes on even if I die?”

Uncertain times force me to put proper emphasis on an eternal God and my relationship with him; they force me to put proper emphasis on relationships with those I love; they force me to invest in the well-being of others and they force me to see as precious, each and every moment that is given to me as a gift.

If I learn to embrace these lasting aspects to life, I’ll be OK with the parts that don’t make it.

Tim Schroeder is a pastor at Trinity Baptist Church. Jim Taylor’s column will appear Monday.