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It Is What It Is, But It Is Not What It Shall Be

March 30, 2020 by S. D. Smith 23 Comments

It is what it is. I read it on a cubicle wall. It’s a country-craft sign with large, cursive script, a script to make one curse. Words to echo the curse. The sign is made to look like it was made on a farm, but it was made in China. And not on a farm in China. The smooth, shimmering surface lies about its age. It’s made to appear older with new-painted fading, meticulously manufactured cracks, and fabricated years. An inverted aging starlet. It is intentionally distressed and so am I. But, I suppose, it is what it is. This sign that transports me to a funeral, a child’s sickbed, an accident scene. It is what it is.

It is what it is. It is a statement of resignation. After all kinds of trouble, worry, and fear, there it sits. We can live with such a statement, but not forever.

It is what it is. Is it?

It is what it is, but it is not what it shall be.

Children will not someday die, someday. Cancer will not reduce and end us like a berserker army invading every border, swallowing our hallowed map. It is what it is, but it is not what it shall be.

There’s good all over and grace in every breath. It is today and we are alive and so we ought to happily receive these gifts all over. Gratitude should be our theme song.

Thank God it’s Friday, but Someday’s coming.

We wrestle with the Not Yetness of things. With the good, broken, incompleteness of everything. We can receive a cold valley with thanks and still long for the sun.

It is what it is. But all the same, we long for it to be different. We long for it to not be all the same. Or, we long for it to be the same, but different. Like our best friends, we want them fully themselves. We want the fully realized valley. Sun and all. We want the valley on the edge of forever to slide on over.

It is what it is, but it is not what it shall be. Some day, when Someday comes, we will slide on over into the re-Edened earth. Sunrise.

This bought by Brother’s blood,
And so our family seal,
Runs red across a guarantee,
Of Father’s glad goodwill.
From me, my sons, sin you get,
An inherited curse.

From a Greater Father, you may claim,
All of the reverse.

All of the reverse. In that day, It is what it is will be fully and finally undone, by:

I Am Who I Am.

  • Author
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S. D. Smith
S. D. Smith
S. D. Smith is the award-losing author of The Green Ember Series. Sam loves chocolate chip cookies, soccer, and knights who kill dragons.
S. D. Smith
Latest posts by S. D. Smith (see all)
  • Make Believe Makes Believers - July 19, 2021
  • The Archer’s Cup is Here - September 30, 2020
  • It Is What It Is, But It Is Not What It Shall Be - March 30, 2020

Filed Under: Faith & Vision, Fostering Imagination

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Comments

  1. Alyssa Ramsey says

    March 22, 2013 at 8:18 am

    This may be my favorite Sam Smith piece ever. Goosebumps.

    Reply
    • S.D. Smith says

      March 22, 2013 at 7:35 pm

      Thanks, Alyssa. That means a lot.

      Reply
  2. Paula says

    March 22, 2013 at 9:04 am

    Ditto. I loved this the first time I read it (on Rabbit Room, I think) and I love it still. Beautifully said.

    Reply
    • S.D. Smith says

      March 22, 2013 at 7:35 pm

      I’m glad. Thank you.

      Reply
  3. Shannon Boyd says

    March 22, 2013 at 9:10 am

    Aching goodness I needed first thing this morning. “All of the reverse.” Yes, please.

    Reply
    • S.D. Smith says

      March 22, 2013 at 7:34 pm

      Me too!

      Reply
    • claire kurdelak says

      March 31, 2020 at 2:24 am

      Hoping in the Lord in this time (adjectives fail me). I was seeking good literature for my kids and me, and discovered you because Amazon saw a pattern and suggested I might be interested in your latest book. I’m kind of amazed by your website and the taste I’m getting of your work and your mission. Delighted! Looking forward to reading your work and being inspired, encouraged, challenged and delighted.

      Reply
  4. Christie Purifoy says

    March 22, 2013 at 12:51 pm

    “The re-Edened Earth.” Yes. Leaning in to that.
    Thank you.

    Reply
    • S.D. Smith says

      March 22, 2013 at 7:34 pm

      God bless you.

      Reply
  5. Laura Peterson says

    March 22, 2013 at 2:37 pm

    I’m with Alyssa. One of my favorite posts from you, Sam. Thanks.

    Reply
    • S.D. Smith says

      March 22, 2013 at 7:34 pm

      Thank you, friend. Your encouragement is big in my life.

      Reply
  6. Brenda Branson says

    March 22, 2013 at 5:46 pm

    Ah Sam! Longing for the reversal. Great, life-giving article!

    Reply
    • S.D. Smith says

      March 22, 2013 at 7:33 pm

      Thanks, Brenda. I can’t wait.

      Reply
  7. WifeMotherGardener says

    March 22, 2013 at 10:58 pm

    “All of the reverse.” Amen! So good. So encouraging. Thanks Sam!

    Reply
  8. Bryana Johnson says

    March 22, 2013 at 11:46 pm

    Good words, Sam. Good words.

    Reply
  9. Annie Wald says

    March 24, 2013 at 3:55 am

    Amen and amen.

    Reply
  10. Rachel says

    March 25, 2016 at 8:40 am

    Beautiful reminder of the Hope we have in Jesus Christ and His finished work. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  11. Bonnie says

    March 25, 2016 at 10:06 pm

    Yes! Amen!!!

    Reply
  12. Dawn says

    March 30, 2020 at 7:40 am

    So beautiful. It gives me pause. Thank you!!

    Reply
  13. JJ says

    March 30, 2020 at 9:17 am

    My soul needed this today. A gentle nudge away from the edge. A reminder of a truthgreater than my circumstances. Thank you.

    Reply
  14. Aidan Jones says

    April 3, 2020 at 11:05 am

    Yes! A beautiful, much-needed, reminder. It’s easy to forget that although God allows evil and suffering, he never directly wills it. Thank you for this article, sir.

    Reply
  15. CB says

    August 30, 2020 at 11:09 pm

    What is the title of the poem, and did you write it? It is wonderful!

    Reply
    • S. D. Smith says

      August 31, 2020 at 12:46 pm

      It’s part of a poem I wrote for my sons. Thank you.

      Reply

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