So even though its Friday, there will be no 'running Friday' post today. Not much to report from today's run - 8 miles, not good but not bad either. No earth shaking insights either way.
Instead I thought I might share a brief thought about today's lectionary passage (which as always can be found here: http://gamc.pcusa.org/devotion/daily/2010/11/12/ )
I don't really have anything earth shattering to say about the James passage, but the opening verses struck me as something I needed to be reminded of today and I thought that maybe the case for you to. So James 1:17-18 it says: 17Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
It is amazing how we can 'know' something but not apply that knowledge in our lives. I stand up in church every Sunday morning before the offering and say something to the effect of: 'All that we have is not ours, the result of our labor or even the hand of 'luck' but a gift from God'
I SAY THAT EVERY WEEK - OUT LOUD. And yet I think I live most of my life things just kind of happen and if something good happens I probably deserved it or worked for it. And if something bad happens I wonder, 'why me' or think about my bad luck.
I wonder though, how different would our lives be if we lived our lives like we really believed that all the good things that we have, that we experience and that we will ever know come directly from God as a gift of love and grace to us.
I think we would have no choice but to apply that knowledge in our lives by living with an attitude of grace and thankfulness that would be infectious - in much the same way a negative or bad attitude can be. I also think if we really forced ourselves to recognize each day that All the good things we have or that have happened to us were from God would move us to be actively involved in working and doing for others. When you have a real sense of what God has done and is doing for you, how can you not want to be more involved in the mission and work of God?
And this is not the point of this post - and I don't want to belittle the pain, suffering and grief we go through. But I really believe if we are actively recognizing and Thanking God for all that he gives us and does for us that is good and that we enjoy at the very least it changes the tenor of the discussion when we ask why something bad has happened?
Again I don't want this to be the focus of this post, but I think the way we think about God and why we are 'allowed' to suffer changes when the things that go wrong or are difficult to explain aren't the only things that we blame on God.
I needed this reminder today and so I thought maybe you did too.
Happy Weekend.
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