How Are You?

“How are you today?”

My Uncle Eldon has a touch of the ornery in him. Whenever anyone would ask him, “How are you?” he would respond with, “Terrible!” Then he would grin.

When I was a teenager, I asked him why he did this. His answer? “To see if anyone is listening.”

He is so right. How often has someone asked you, “How are you?” then, as you open your mouth to say whatever, they are half way on to the next person or their next thought.

The expected answer is, “I’m fine.” Let’s face it. At some time or another, we are not fine. We’ve had a bad week. Our spirits are broken. We are enduring physical or emotional pain. As one women told me at church after she told me she was fine, “I’m actually on the edge of not fine” as she wiped her eyes.

An old hymn has given me a new way to answer that question of “How are you?” Here it is:

When peace like a river attendeth my way.
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

For the Christian, that is such an apt description. In spite of the storms I weather, in spite of any physical or emotional pain I endure, my soul is well. The third verse if this beautiful hymn gives the reason:

My sin – oh the bliss of this glorious thought.
My sin – not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul.

It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul.

Christ died for me. I am forgiven. I am transformed. My life has been changed and I’m walking with God rather than away from God. Yes, yes, yes. It is well with my soul.