David and Saul

Sometimes things seem inevitable - the writing is on the wall - the question is how do we deal with it.

Today's Morning Prayer reading is from 1 Sam 24 and is a poignant story. David is hiding in the back of a cave and Saul comes in, instead of taking the opportunity to dispatch him, David creeps up on him and cuts off a piece of his cloak - then, as Saul leaves, he calls after him. Saul realizes that David could have killed him and has spared him, but he also, in that moment sees God's hand upon David as the future king - his time is short and his dynasty is over.

There is so much sadness in this passage that it is heart-wrenching but it is also one of the most accessible moments in the Old Testament because of its familiarity to many of us. There are numerous stories of cease-fires in wars where people have met the enemy but then resumed the fight from a more anonymous distance later. But it is not only in war where we have to deal with sad and painful truth about ourselves and those around us. There is that gut-wrenching moment when we realize an unpalatable truth and then the next moment - what do we do with that knowledge?

Saul and David part - both saddened by the truth and both ready for the future - Saul asks one thing, knowing that he cannot save himself he asks that David does not wipe out his family in the days ahead.

What do we do with unpalatable truth - Saul's reaction is not predictable - he has been violent and moody previously - but something in him grasps a greater humanity - perhaps what we would call Grace. Grace does not mean we should give up on situations and dumbly follow along when things are not looking good - Grace does mean that when we hit the rocks in life we can find a patience and a calm which we might not predict would be a part of us.