Posts Tagged: 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“ ‘THAT’S TENNESSEE, SON’: THE BEAUTY OF THE NOT-SO-ORDINARY”
“in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, New American Standard Bible, 1995)
A gentleman I met at church told me a wonderful story yesterday. Seems he was a pastor, and served in San Diego. He said, “San Diego is beautiful, but it is a desert. If you see green, you know that it’s a park, and you’re going to have to pay at least $5.00 to get in.”
Then, he was called to a little church in eastern Tennessee. As his plane was flying into the postage-stamp of an airport, he was absolutely struck with wonder at all the greenness. He assumed that it must all be man-made parks.
He turned to his seatmate, a man who was from Tennessee, and asked, “What is that down there?”
At first, the man didn’t understand the question. When he finally did understand, he said, “That’s Tennessee, Son.”
Now, I have been to both San Diego and eastern Tennessee. They are both drop-dead gorgeous. But this story sent me down another path. What if virtually every place is gorgeous? What if ever place is a garden of wonder? What if it isn’t greenery, but gratitude, that makes a place, a relationship, a life-situation, lovely?
There are times when I’m mowing the grass in my own back yard when I feel such gratitude for even having a yard. This, despite the fact that a lawn-care professional who was bidding on a contract to take care of it wrote that we had “a nice crop of weeds.” Sometimes, even weeds can be lovely—at least to me.
When I was little, my dad complained about my praying before we ate. “That boy thanks God for the birds, and grass, and weeds, while my food gets cold!” That little boy is still alive in me somewhere.
And then, there are my relationships. I have so many friends. I have a wife who loves me, and whom I love. I have activities that I love to do—blogging for example. My life is full and deeply satisfying.
So, from this particular angle on this particular day at this particular moment, I look down and say, “This is my life. And, oh, is it ever beautiful!”
“LOVING BEING GRATEFUL
“thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, The Message)
Even when I give thanks, I can be selfish about it. Let me explain.
I often give thanks for what other people have done, is doing, or will do for me. I give thanks for what God has done, is doing, or will do for me. I give thanks for good things that have happened, are happening, or will happen for me.
Did you catch the little prepositional phrase at the end of each sentence in the preceding paragraph: “for me”? It is less selfish to give thanks than it is to pretend that we are self-made and self-blessed. However, it still seems like a low-grade form of selfishness. And a low-grade form of selfishness is like a low-grade fever—a sign that all is not well. I did not realize this until God got my attention this morning, and I actually obeyed. Obedience is a wonderful Bible study tool!
So, this morning God challenged me to give thanks for some good things that other people are experiencing or doing. Several people from my life group came to mind, and also a friend at the University who just passed the viva for his PhD.
After listing several things for which I was grateful that had nothing to do with me directly, I felt the joy of the LORD sweep over me. So, my next item on today’s gratitude list was as follows:
“Gratitude lists. How I’ve come to love doing these things! They help get me out of the hellish echo chamber of my mind.”
I also thought of Paul saying, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) One aspect of this rejoicing is being thankful for good things that have nothing to do with us.
No matter how badly things seem to be going for me, or really are going for me, I can find some good things happening to others for which I can be profoundly grateful. There is a boundless supply of grist for gratitude.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
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