Last week I had a joke that underscored the main point of the message. This week it's a story. And the story goes like this:

Two men set out on a journey together. They took a donkey to carry their packs, a torch to light their way at night, and a rooster, who was a friend of the donkey. The rooster sat on the donkey's head during the journey.

One of the men was deeply religious; the second was a skeptic. On the journey they frequently spoke about the Lord. "In all things, God is good," said the first companion. “We will see if your opinion bears out on the trip," said the second.

Shortly before dusk the two men arrived in a small village where they sought a place to sleep. Despite their frequent requests, no one offered them a night's lodging. Reluctantly, they traveled a mile outside of town, where they decided to sleep.

"I thought you said God is good," the skeptic said sarcastically. "God has decided this is the best place for us to sleep tonight," replied his friend.

They fixed their beds beneath a large tree, just off the main road that led to the village, tethering the donkey about 30 yards away. Just as they were about to light the torch they heard a horrible noise. A lion had killed the donkey and carried it off to eat it away from the two men. Quickly the companions climbed the tree to stay away from danger.

"You still say God is good?" the skeptic asked with anger. "If the lion hadn't eaten the donkey, he would have attacked us. God is good," his companion declared. Moments later a cry from the rooster sent them further up the tree. From this new vantage point they saw a wildcat carrying the bird away in his teeth. Before the skeptic could say a word, the man of faith declared, "The cry of the rooster has once again saved us. God is good."

A few minutes later a strong wind arose and blew out the torch, the only comfort of the men in the black night. Again the skeptic taunted his companion. "It appears the goodness of God is working overtime this evening," he said. This time, the believer was silent. ...

The next morning the two men walked back into the village for food. They soon discovered that a large band of outlaws had swept into town the previous night and robbed the entire village of all its possessions.

With this news the man of faith turned to his friend. "Finally, it has become clear!" he cried. "Had we been given a room in the village last night, we would have been robbed along with all of the villagers. If the wind had not blown out our torch, the bandits who traveled the road near the place where we slept would have discovered us and taken all our goods. It is clear, that in all things, God is good." ...

True, or not? Is God at work--is God alive--in the mixed up jumble of everyday life? Or, perhaps more to the point, can you only see God at work--can you only recognize God--if you approach the mixed up jumble of everyday life with faith? Otherwise, God is hidden.

Today is the last Sunday in our seven-week celebration of Easter. This past Thursday--whether we realized it or not--was the Day of Ascension: the fortieth day after Easter when, scripture says, Jesus departed to be with his Father in heaven.

Questions, then, about how and where we find God in daily life really matter! The story suggests that, looked at one way, the events of daily life prove God is good, while, looked at another way, daily life shows no influence of God whatsoever.

Today's first reading (from the Book of Acts) suggests the same point. Like the story I told, the story in Acts is a mixed up jumble of everyday life, very much like the mixed up jumble of our lives. And, like our lives--and like the story I told--looked at one way, God is good. But, looked at another way--God is nowhere to be found.

Paul and his companions are in Europe, on their way to the local synagogue, when a slave girl--a highly successful fortuneteller--begins following them and shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They announce to you how you can be saved!”

God is good, right? Paul and his associates are getting some free and very much-needed publicity, right?

That’s not how Paul sees it. In what is probably a very accurate picture of the real-life Paul, Paul is simply annoyed. Day after day this slave girl--this fortune-teller--is following him around, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God! They announce to you how you can be saved!” Fed up, Paul turns and speaks to the spirit inspiring the girl’s fortune-telling: “In the name of Jesus Christ I order you to come out of her!”

God is good, right? God could even use Paul’s short temper to set the poor girl free from the spirit that drove her!

Well, maybe. The spirit that drove her was also the spirit that made her owners wealthy, cashing in on her gift. When they learned that Paul had thrown out her gift, they made him pay. Dragging him to the center of the city, they brought charges against him and had him beaten with rods and thrown into prison.

“I thought you said God was good? Where is God now?” In prison, an earthquake shatters the city in the middle of the night. The prison doors break open and the chains fall off the prisoners bodies.

God is good. But no, because the prisoners can break free, the guard begins to commit suicide. Where is God now? But no, Paul and his companions convince everyone to stay and, in gratitude, the prison guard converts to Christianity along with his whole family.

We could keep playing this game but I think you get it. We live in the same world as the people in my story or those in the Book of Acts. Life is a mixed up jumble. Things happen to us and it’s not clear if God is in them or not.

Is God good or is God absent? What both that story and story from the Book of Acts suggest is that faith sees God at work in the jumble of everyday life whereas skepticism does not. God is good for those who trust and look for God in life, whereas God remains hidden--or even absent--in those who do not.

Yet, it’s the same jumble of everyday life! It’s the same crazy mixed up jumble!

As we end the season of Easter, let’s remember this. The person who finds God in daily life is the person who looks for God in daily life. The person who sees God in the confusion of life is the person who expects to see God in the confusion of everyday life.

And why is that? It’s because Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed! Alleluia and Amen!