Scripture: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1: 2-4
Music: "Why me Lord" Written & performed by Kris Kristofferson
Message: Why me Lord?
When we are in a place of suffering, a common lament is "Why me Lord"?
A plea, supplication to God to help us, to bring relief from the pain.
We can try to help ourselves with an inversion of this thinking... as Kris Kristofferson wrote in his classic song in his darkest times:
"Why me Lord, what have I ever done
to deserve even one, of the pleasures I've known
Tell me, Lord, what did I ever do
that was worth loving you
or the kindness you've shown?"
This is neither simple nor easy, but a worthy goal. A discipline. To seek the "bright spots", just as we are working toward in our church. Practicing gratitude and hope can help show us the way.
In case you are wondering about the images, I discovered hummingbirds and sweet pea flowers are among the images that represent gratitude...
In some Native American cultures, it was believed that the hummingbird was created from flowers. Those who believed this, thought that the hummingbird returns every spring to show its gratitude to flowers from which it came.
"The discipline of gratitude is the explicit effort to acknowledge that all I am and have is given to me as a gift of love, a gift to be celebrated with joy. Gratitude as a discipline involves a conscious choice. I can choose to be grateful even when my emotions and feelings are still steeped in hurt and resentment."
Henri Nouwen