Peter and John

I'm sure almost everyone made this statment when they were a child, "but that's not fair". I am almost as equally sure that your parents responded like mine with the phrase, "yes, but life's not fair." Life is not fair. This is easily seen if you look across the landscape of the world. If life were fair, children in South Africa would not be oprhaned by AIDS, parents would not divorce, young girls would not be sexually abused, racism would not persist, etc. Life is not fair. Now, you may raise the question what has sparked my thinking about this subject? Was it any of these harsh realities of our world? Nope, it was Valentine's Day. I will explain. I am not a typically jealous person. I don't covet most of what other people have. I don't spend my time devising ways to get the cool gadgets and toys that others own. But, I am jealous of those in relationships, not in the way that I would try to take someone's girlfriend, but in the way that I want what they appear to have. I am jealous of that. My lack of success with the female sex has been well documented. I have been single for a long time, longer than many people I know. This is where I begin to be jealous. I see people who are great people, deserving, loving, and all around awesome people finding and developing relationships. I am happy for them, but at the same time I am jealous. Soon after I speak the congratulations, inwardly I speak the question, "when will my time come?" This is when I have once again realized that life is not fair. More importantly, God is not fair. In all acutality, God cares nothing for fairness. He cares about justice, but not about my definition of fairness. This reminds me of the story in John 21. Jesus has risen from the dead and appeared to the apsotles. He meets them while they are fishing. He calls out to them from the beach and they have a great catch of fish. They realize it is Jesus. Peter jumps out of the boat and swims to shore. After the rest of the apostles reach the beach, they share a breakfast of fish and bread. Jesus begins asking Peter if he loves him. Peter replies with the affirmative. Jesus continues asking. Peter becomes distressed. Jesus then tells him how he will die and to follow him. Peter looks back at John and asks Jesus, "what about him?' Jesus tells Peter its none of his business what happens to John. Peter's duty is to follow Jesus. In Peter's mind, it would only have been fair if John would share in the same kind of death, but in essence Jesus says fairness matters nothing, only obedience does. God knows what my heart desires. Fairness says I should get what I want, obedience says I must follow irregardless.

"Father, when will my time come?"
-Super Dave

"Follow Me!"
-Jesus