“You got to taste the sour to appreciate the sweet”.

Jason Lee, Vanilla sky

As I watched the film Vanilla Sky, the words above rifled up and down my spine and radiated throughout my soul.  What statement could be truer?  Tom Cruise plays the role of an exceedingly wealthy heir of a publishing company. He lives a seemingly charmed life, replete with beautiful women, fast cars, all the material possessions one could desire, and lawyers, experts, and other assistants to clean up any mess he should make- all available at the touch of a button. Yet, the Jason Lee character (the Cruise character’s buddy in the film), senses a melancholy ennui and discontent in the Cruise character resulting from always being able to get what one wants and thus lays the above quotation on his friend. As expected, the statement makes zero impact. 

Let me ask you a question. Who respects and appreciates a glass of cool water more, the billionaire with whatever his heart desires a quick request away, or the man at death’s door who has been floating on the ocean for nearly a week without food or water?  How appreciative are you that you are able to fill your lungs with air?  Are you forever thanking The Lord that you can clearly speak?  How grateful do you feel when you are able to get up and walk across the room?  How grateful do you suppose I would be to be able to do any of these things?  

As I reflect upon my life, it has been tough to be sure, and while I would jump at the chance to have my ALS removed, I would not want to remove the struggle it has forced me to go through.  That struggle has strengthened my character, stiffened my resolve, and taught me innumerable life lessons I could have learned no other way, including gratitude for the simplest of life’s privileges.  Do you suppose God owes you a long, happy, healthy life?  He does not.  For all of the sour I have tasted in this life, it has only served to heighten my appreciation for the sweet.  For this, I am indeed grateful.

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