Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
I am posting this video of rain because, well, it was such a beautiful experience to see a little precipitation Thursday afternoon after so many days and weeks – and likely months by this time – of drought.
The rain was encouraging, absolutely, but also short-lived. Because then Friday’s 99-degree temperatures pretty much destroyed me.
I couldn’t help but note the difference the heat makes during my 29-mile morning bike ride with Tarboro Cycling. We started early but it still reached 90-degrees before we finished, sapping my strength and impacting my ability to climb even the slightest grade.
Then I remembered August and September of 1976 in Florida, soccer team “two-a-day” workouts in 100-degree temperatures with 99% humidity; I don’t know how many times I heard , “Look, the Limey threw up again!” (I had grown up playing in the English autumn and winter, where a typical game day involved rain and 45-degrees.)
So here I am, fifty years later, riding a bike farther than I ever have in my life and not even close to throwing up at all.
So while I am absolutely looking for a break from this oppressive heat, I am more than grateful for the apparent good health I am enjoying at the beginnings of this new decade.
Complain? or give thanks?
The temptation, always, is to look around and say things like, “it’s too hot…” “there’s not enough rain…” “gas and grocery prices are killing me…” “politicians are too angry…” “the liberals/conservatives (you pick!) are ruining this country….”
We could go on like that for a long time; fact is, careers are being built on less!
Or we could wake up in the morning and offer a different litany:
- Just thinking about Rebekah makes me smile…
- Thank you, God, for my children and my grandchildren…
- I am loved by my Creator, invited into New Life by Jesus and filled with light and grace by the Holy Spirit…
- My church family is full with the best people…
- I have friends I can count on and who love me…
- What an amazing cup of coffee this is…
- I am so grateful to live here in this place…
- I have everything that I need…
- What a privilege to be able to ride my bike…
- I am a citizen of the United States of America…
That is just a short list and we haven’t even had breakfast yet!
The Apostle Paul offered these words of encouragement and direction to a group of people who did not enjoy the security and the privileges I just touched on. Still, the practice – the spiritual discipline – of a thankful heart was and is a truth that encompasses all of life’s circumstances.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus…”
This is God’s will for us! And also God’s good gift – DEREK