Thank Goodness For A Mulligan

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Thank Goodness For A Mulligan

by Beth Penny

The global pandemic that we now, almost affectionately, call COVID-19 derailed the entire world. Plans were disrupted; lives were interrupted. In our “Me, me, me” society, we were inconvenienced. Amid all the negative, what is the silver lining in the situation? We question God’s overall plan amidst the atrocity of an entire nation halted. The pandemic came with fear, uncertainty, and loss of control, to only name a few. But thank goodness for a mulligan. We were forced to remember that it’s really not all about “me.”

Think of our 40-day shutdowns as God calling a mulligan. In our busy, busy lives, we were actually given the gift of time. I think of another time God called a 40-day “do-over.” Remember the story of Noah and his family? God chose Noah and his family to be the example of a do-over. They weathered first the storm of life and then the actual storms that came. Many examples, songs, and devotions are based on the fact that God always allows the sun to shine after a storm. Sometimes, while in the midst of fear and uncertainty, we forget that the sunshine will come.

The fear and panic of the pandemic and quarantines are storms in our lives. In Mark 4, Jesus and his disciples face a real storm. The disciples are in a boat with Jesus just trying to cross the sea. A tremendous storm comes, and the disciples begin to question their safety. Mark 4:39-40 is Jesus giving them a do-over. “He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, ‘Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?’” The disciples in the boat with a very real and human form of Jesus still struggle with panic and uncertainty. Our takeaway from their fear? Jesus calms the storm, no matter the real or symbolic storm we face. For our faith to increase, we must experience these

storms of life. The beauty of God’s grace and, more importantly, mercy is the fact that He gives us a mulligan, a second shot. He gives us a second chance, a third chance, a fourth chance…until we get it right. God’s capacity for forgiveness is unbounded. Allow yourself the spiritual do-over.

About The Author Beth Penny has taught English at Model High School since 1997. There she is also the Yearbook adviser and the Special Education Department Chair. She and her husband, Chad, have four children.