When Oklahoma Academy still had a daycare, the cafeteria cooks provided meals for the academy and the daycare. One morning the meals were so hastily packaged that when the food arrived at the daycare kitchen, the bread was still frozen. Mrs. Kennedy, the daycare director, had an idea. “Today we have a special treat!” she told the hungry kids. “We have North Pole bread! Isn’t that awesome?” Excited whispers spread through the kids. No one had ever had North Pole bread before! The kids eagerly ate all of the frozen bread that day for lunch.
Sometimes life doesn’t go as planned. It's easy to be worried and frustrated and question God. Like the children of Israel, we groan at every inconvenience in life. Even minor mishaps can make us tremble with anxiety. But each trial is an opportunity. James says to count it all joy when you fall into various trials. Jesus says “In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 He promises life will be full of hiccups.
One hiccup Oklahoma Academy is facing is choosing to close its doors. As of this Tuesday, spring break begins and the following week will begin online classes. No one foresaw this change. Of course schools, businesses, and cities have shut down but we didn’t think the stifling tentacles of the novel coronavirus would reach our tiny campus. But it has. When the governor announced no one should gather in groups larger than ten, the executive committee decided they had no other choice than to have the students go home where they will finish school online.
Now is the opportunity to make North Pole bread. Now is the opportunity to take James at his words. As we all sadly bid farewell, Jesus is planning a beautiful lesson for us to learn in this somber time. It is difficult not knowing what will happen; not feeling in control. Will we choose to trust Him with our future?