January, 2018
Where to
begin writing in a near year? I can’t seem to shake two words ruminating in my
head and heart - thankful and possible.
A spirit of
thankfulness should never wander far from any of us. Regardless of the imperfect, flawed,
struggling world around us or the truth of personal pain, frustration, or
sorrow, a vacuum of thankfulness must never reside. Gratitude feeds the body,
mind, and soul and keeps us well.
Rising to
the surface for me in my list of thankfulness includes:
·
Conviction that an invisible God is present
always, even when I don’t feel Him or hear Him.
·
A family who are well and love each other.
·
Good health.
·
Friends who keep in touch and those who inspire me.
·
Visits back to Canada and the support making it
possible. Plus those who made the long journey here to spend time with us.
·
The anticipation that our children and grandchildren
are coming to Kenya this year!
·
The stretching of our faith and a trust, though
sometimes weak, that enable us to lead, learn, and live while facing and
accepting our limits.
·
Lots of reading because we’ve chosen to live
without television. Great blessing!
·
Unexpected surprises – another Canadian and
finding turnip. J
·
People who pray for us.
·
The truth that it’s okay to have questions
without answers, pain without balm, and sorrow without comfort (phrases borrowed from Ted Loder), but
it’s never okay to be silent when injustice is present or to ‘pass by on the
other side’ when a neighbor needs help.
·
Face time and Skype
·
And so much more … oh yea, that I only had one
episode of a lizard in my bed!
Let
thankfulness prevail, Lord. Every day of this new year.
And what of that which is possible? A new year, laced with uncertainty. What lies before us? Only
God full knows. I cannot see. He can. He
does. Where will I participate most fully in what is right and good? Who will I
help? Who will help me/us? None of us live without the need of others. We were
made for community, not isolation. We are interdependent. Whose path will I cross this year? Who will be
the Samaritan woman that I can converse with when I’m sitting by the well,
living out my every day routines? What
prospects are mine to be kind, compassionate, and grace filled? I don’t want to
miss them.
I began my
Bible reading at the beginning – not a bad place to start. J Already in Genesis I’ve
been reminded of God’s grace and judgment, judgement and grace – a recurring cycle.
God always has room for redemption. He banishes Adam and Eve from the garden
but then clothes them with a garment to cover their shame. Cain is judged for
killing his brother but is protected from the wrath of others. The earth is
wiped out by a flood but restored through a man named Noah. He is a God of second chances. I’ve known that
many times in my life. I’ve seen it here in Kenya too - second chances for
prostitutes, street boys, those who are poor, lonely, mistreated and
broken. And often those second chances
happen through God’s people who are simply willing to be attentive and
engaged. There are countless
opportunities and possibilities to dispense grace and increase redemption in
our fallen world. And you don’t have to
be such a perfect person to be part of making it happen. Neither Adam and Eve,
nor Abraham, nor Noah were spotless. Their flaws were quite apparent. Evidently God isn’t waiting for the unsoiled,
faultless. He simply waits for the willing. And perhaps, the thankful.
Happy New
Year to all of us in 2018
No comments:
Post a Comment