# Great Problems

**Published by:** [jer979](https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2/)
**Published on:** 2025-08-22
**URL:** https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2/great-problems

## Content

I was caught up in a vortex of a problem. My chest and back muscles were tense. My voice, heightened. Patience was wearing thin, like a threadbare coat. The feeling in my gut, really outside of my gut, was like I was wearing a tire around my waist, instead of a hula hoop. How would I fix it? How could I make it all go away so I could feel the ever elusive tranquility, like floating on the ocean during a beautiful sunset? I was caught up in my own world of problems. Nearly totally absorbed. Then, I spoke with a friend. “How are things going? Give me the update,” I said. “Life sucks. I’ve been unemployed for a year and I can’t find a job.” Seconds after he told me that, the car I was riding in (my friend was driving) was sideswiped by a reckless driver. (No one was hurt, fortunately). God was sending me a message. Or even if he wasn’t, I chose to take it that way. “Dude, yes, you have problems, but you have a really GOOD problem. It’s the kind of problem that only happens when you are fortunate.” I’m studying the book of Job right now. We’re not done yet, but I wonder if it’s possible, just maybe, maybe, maybe, to get to a point where every problem is a good problem. Because if you have a problem, it means you’re alive. And that’s a good thing.

## Publication Information

- [jer979](https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2/): Publication homepage
- [All Posts](https://paragraph.com/@jer979-2/): More posts from this publication
- [RSS Feed](https://api.paragraph.com/blogs/rss/@jer979-2): Subscribe to updates
- [Twitter](https://twitter.com/jer979): Follow on Twitter