Hunting the Jabberwock
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
So begins (and later ends) "Jabberwocky," the famous nonsense poem by Lewis Carroll. Anyone familiar with Through the Looking-Glass knows the ridiculous poem. It may tell the tale of the epic-worthy hunt of the Jabberwock, but it's clear that's the only part of the poem meant to be intelligible. Half the words are made up. It's utter nonsense.
Life can occasionally feel a bit like "Jabberwocky." It can be filled with words, characters, and scenes which don't make sense. It's a bit bewildering, whether you're shunning the frumious Bandersnatch or facing a suddenly, inexplicably hostile boardroom. You can find yourself unknowingly thrust into situations for which you're grossly unprepared; friends can become foes; spouses seemingly randomly file for divorce; employment is yanked out from underneath you. Things which once seemed solid crumble beneath your feet, and none of it makes any sense.
For the Christian, one anchor exists which never fails us: Jesus Christ. Even if we experience moments of doubt and uncertainty -- and we all do -- God never leaves us or forsakes us. He never abandons us. He never changes. The cross never ceases to provide forgiveness, never revokes the atonement Christ made for our sins. The love of God never fades, never diminishes, never disappears. Whenever we need Him in this topsy-turvy world of ours, God is there.
And what's more: we don't have to hunt for God like a Jabberwock. All we need to do is pray, and we can instantly be connected with the Creator of the universe -- and that's good news!