I have to make a confession today. I’m into church signs. I am addicted to them. I just heard some snickering and laughing that came from the back of the room. The Dumbo sheep and the firemen sit back there. They love church signs too. The messages make them laugh. I know. It sounds disrespectful and irreverent; but please don’t be too hard on them. Laughing is vital when you’re in recovery. Whenever newbie sheep attend our meetings for the first time, we make them come up to the front and share a church sign they’ve seen recently. In fact it’s an unspoken rule in our fellowship that you laugh yourself to sleep at least once a week, reading the samples of church signs published in our manual. It’s very therapeutic. I just happened to drive by a sign on my way to this Humans Anonymous meeting today. I want to tell you what it said, but I’m already losing it as the words begin to make their way out of my mouth. Smilingly they come. “The two most important days of your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why.”
I heard a gasp from the newbies. The sheer power of the words took their breath away. So deep. So profound. But just 
too much for simple, recovering minds to understand. I repeated the words, “The day you were born. . .and the day you find out why.” And then the laughing started. It was contagious. Even the long-timers couldn’t control themselves. There were sheep rolling on the floor, laughing so hard they were crying. It reminded me of my pot smoking days. Laughing uncontrollably until your stomach would hurt. It’s like a fire that has to burn itself out. So I waited. When it seemed like they were all done and the room got quiet, one of the jack asses started laughing and everyone started up again. I know you can relate. The whole experience seems to free up the soul, for a while. Finally one of the old-timers stood up and restored some order to the meeting. When I had their attention again, I asked them a question. “What Are the two most important days of YOUR life?” And there was silence. And there was a spirit of sobriety. And I saw only serious faces. And then the tears came.
One by one they spoke. “I used to think it was the day I was born, until that day arrived when I wished I had never been born”. . . “It was the day I got married; but resulted in the worst day of my life when I lost everything that had value”. . . “It was the day my daughter was born and as life went on, the day arrived when I realized what a failure as a father I was”. . . It was the day I thought I had found out why, the day when I thought I had everything , the day when I was happy, the day I thought I had discovered why I was born, only to experience the disappointment of discovering later that I was wrong. . .and then I didn’t know why. . . and despaired of ever finding out.” Everyone shared their answers. However, I have left out something each one said after their statements. It was a single, three letter word. A word that is a game changer. . .BUT!
“But we know and are assured that God, being a Partner in their labor, all things work together and are fitting into a plan for Good, to and for those who Love God and who are the called, according to His Purpose.”
“But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for Good.”
“Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of the overwhelming distress in your heart. For the battle is not yours, but God’s.”
“But You, O Lord are a God full of Compassion, Grace and Patience . .and Love overflowing with Mercy and Kindness and Forgiveness and Truth.”
The two most important days of your life. The day you were born and the day you find out why. Words from Mark Twain. 
There are so many days that are significant and personal for each one of us. But, the sheep know that the most important days of their life are the days when their hearts were made free from guilt and shame and condemnation. When their soul is bound in misery, while their conscience reads off the list of their sins and failures, and they stand before the Judge, full of despair, waiting for the guilty verdict. . .and from His lips they hear, “But God.” Then and only then do they find out why they were born.
“But God demonstrated His Love for us in this. . .while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the sheep.” All of those in attendance today at the meeting know very personally, this Great Love. . .given to them at the very end of their death sentence. There was that “But once I was lost and now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see.” Whenever they are full of shame and guilt, and loneliness and hopeless feelings bring them near death, they hear the words “But God” and like dead Lazarus, they come forth from the grave to a New Day, a New Birth. . . the Day of God’s Power from the Womb of the Morning, with the Son of God Beaming into their hearts, chasing away the darkness like the Morning Sun.
Today is my daughter Rachel’s birthday. One of the most important days of my life. She is a precious ewe. A princess of the King. Happy Birth Day, Rachy!
A Good Moment 