Complaints or Blessings?

Thursday, April 15, 2021

What Do We See?

Ice One Cannot Safely Walk On

or

Beauty Rarely Found?

Psalm 5:12

For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover them with favour as with a shield.

Acts 13:52

The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Words of Grace For Today

Covid 19 presses challenges on us all, unequally.

The homeless and outcasts in Canada are recognized as deserving homes and inclusion, so thankfully an effort is made to provide for them. They receive safe places to live and eat if for no other reason because not to do so would lead to an outbreak among them that could not be contained and would spread to us all. At least this care is provided in the cities … well sort of … in some cities.

Immigrants who live multi-generationally with many people to a housing unit, many people to a bedroom, are now and again provided separate housing in hotels for those who must self isolate or quarantine themselves … again for our protection.

Pastors gather to discuss their ministries … and it becomes mostly a ‘bitch’ session, complaints of how difficult life is for them and their families, though most retain full pay and adequate work, and none lack for the necessities of life, even in Covid 19 times. Humour creeps into the conversation lessening the dark tone of complaints. Yet where is their overwhelming sense of gratitude? How does one inspire people to remember how blessed they are?

How often Scriptures record gratitude and thankfulness as the most appropriate and life giving response to all of life, all that appears to be good and all that appears to be bad.

For God covers the righteous with favour as with a shield, and in the face of great threat to their lives for being Christian still the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

How then will we live this day?

Full of complaints, self-righteously expecting more from life?

Or

Filled with joy and gratitude, no matter the challenges that come our way?