Sacred Gratitude

“Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all that you promised.” (Psalm 50:14 GNT)

Keeping a gratitude journal reminds me to appreciate the positives in my life. It is a practice that puts me in a better mood. When I’m feeling sorry for myself, I try to quickly think of a few things for which I am thankful. I use this form of ‘generic’ gratitude as a coping mechanism to get me out of the dumps. 

Can gratitude have a sacred purpose?  

While generic gratitude makes us appreciate all that we have, sacred gratitude directs our attention to the Giver of everything. We suddenly find ourselves immersed in a hushed reverence. There is a shift in perspective. We are now able to offer both joys and sufferings to the Lord. Thankfulness becomes a vessel to honor and worship God.

“I’ll worship you passionately and bring to you my sacrifice of praise, drenched with thanksgiving!” (Psalm 116:17 TPT)  

Multiplying Blessings

“I am going to put a special blessing on you and cause your reputation to grow so that you will become a blessing and example to others.” (Genesis 12:2 VOICE)

On a Scrabble game board, there are some squares that multiply the value of your tiles. A good player tries to place his tiles in locations that will yield maximum points. He takes an inventory of the tiles in front of him, and then checks the board to see how he can make the greatest impact with what he has in hand.  Even if he has high value tiles that align to make long words, he needs to be strategic about using the multiplier spaces to win the game. 

The lessons of Scrabble can be beneficial in many areas of daily living. We all have a set of talents and blessings in each season of growth. It is up to us to use what we have been given for the greatest impact. We can take our gifts and multiply them to spread blessings. 

Let’s say someone teaches you how to make bread. Don’t just thank them right after and forget about them. Honor them every time you make bread. That multiplies the blessing.  Make and give away loaves to all who are hungry. Now, you’ve multiplied it further. Teach others to make bread. The impact becomes exponential. 

If you forgo a trip, you might save money and reduce environmental damage. That’s a multiplier. If you donate money to a charity, maybe they will mail you a tote bag for your contribution--not really a multiplier. But if you take the time to research charities and ensure that most of the proceeds go to programs and services--that’s a multiplier. If you recycle a plastic container, that is beneficial. If you can repurpose the container to grow plants, that’s a multiplier. 

Take inventory of all that you have been given. Take every opportunity to multiply and spread goodness. Become a blessing and example to others.

Inner Pilgrimage

“For even though our outer person gradually wears out, our inner being is renewed every single day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16 TPT)

The Camino de Santiago is a network of trails ending at the tomb of St. James in Compostela, Spain. Pilgrims have been walking this famous route for centuries. It takes over a month to complete the 500-mile journey on foot. Day after day, hikers trudge through muddy trails and hills carrying large backpacks with all their essentials. They stop at local churches, resupply rations at towns along the way, and sleep in cramped hostels. I have been doing a virtual version of this trail. Every day I log the miles I do on a website which shows my progress on a map. I get to see photographs of scenic places along each stage. It doesn’t match the physical experience of hiking and sleeping in an unfamiliar country, but it does have its own benefits. I can sleep in my own bed every night, and I don’t have to carry a backpack all day. 

The word ‘virtual’ implies something that is not legitimate. We equate things that are physical and tangible with reality. Thus, external, visual experiences are oftentimes assigned value over interior journeys. As we move through each day--caring, working, serving, listening, connecting--an inner pilgrimage is taking place. These local paths allow us to expand our consciousness, seek meaning, and find purpose. There is much to be discovered in the unknown recesses of our soul. The sacred journey into the depths of our being can be transformative and invaluable.

Plogging

“Take advantage of every opportunity to be a blessing to others.” (Galatians 6:10 TPT)

A few years ago, a new fitness craze called ‘plogging’ emerged in Sweden. This exercise trend combines jogging with picking up litter. Runners plan ahead before plogging. They put on latex gloves and carry trash bags with them. They intentionally scan the streets for trash. Before I heard of this practice, I would notice trash only if it was in my way. Since I wasn’t prepared with a bag, I would pick up just one or two pieces of litter during the last part of my run. These days, I set aside time for weekly plogging. With gloves and trash bags, I scan the streets and ditches while I jog. I’ve learned a few things during these expeditions. You can either run fast, or you can pick up trash--not both. Plogging involves a lot of stopping and stooping. Carrying trash bags decreases running economy, but having a bag increases cleaning efficiency. It is surprising how much more litter you spot when you are actively searching for it. 

The lessons from plogging can be applied to any form of service. When you are actively scanning for ways to help others, you notice a lot more opportunities. Intentionality is key to maximizing benefits. A shift in priorities is also necessary. The way we usually measure progress and profit may not translate in the economy of service. When our primary goal is to bless others and not cause harm, we see things differently. Things that are out of place and incongruous catch our eye. We notice disparities in power, wealth, and privilege. We sense the pain of others. Instead of moving on with our own goals, we become willing to change our agenda.

Observing Opportunities

“Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window. (Her house was built as part of the city wall; she lived in the wall.)” (Joshua 2:15 NET)

It was still dark when I started my run that morning. The full moon lit up the dark sky. Over the next hour, I noticed the moon kept moving closer to the horizon. As the first rays of the sun grandly arrived in the east, the moon disappeared unceremoniously in the west. This was the first time in my life that I had observed a moonset. I have watched the sun rise and set many times at numerous locations all around the world. I’ve woken up early and stayed up late on vacations to take pictures of the sun over oceans and mountains. Why did it take me so long to notice the moon’s movements?

Lunar gravity affects ocean tides, plant growth, and the Earth’s rotation. Invisibility does not equate to insignificance. A lack of observation does not represent a lack of importance. The movements of the moon are no less meaningful just because we fail to notice.

If I told you I had never seen the ocean, you would assume I didn’t live near an ocean--not that I hadn’t bothered to step outside and look. Sunsets, oceans, mountains, massive buildings, statues, etc., receive a lot of hype.  People will go to great lengths to observe the spectacular and experience the sensational. Yet, we miss the unassuming things right around us. 

The Bible tells the story of Rahab--a lowly woman who lived in a wall. No one paid any attention to what she did, yet, she changed the course of history by her actions. The poor, powerless, and voiceless have always lived in the margins of society. They don’t get a lot of hype. We don’t go out of our way to observe their plight or experience their hardships. Thus, we miss out on what is right in front of us. Invisibility is a failure on the part of the observer; it does not diminish the significance of the observed. 

 

Broken Pathways

“Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me.” (Psalm 43:3 NLT) 

I always get disoriented when running in unfamiliar, wooded areas. All the trails and trees look alike; there are no distinct landmarks. Sometimes the path abruptly ends due to a fallen tree or overgrown vegetation. It’s hard to know if you took a wrong turn or if the path continues up ahead. If there is a GPS signal, I can check the map on my phone. Since satellite signals can be spotty in tree covered areas, I print out a map and carry it with me whenever possible. I also keep scanning for signs that I am on the right track. I am thankful for any evidence of humanity--a clear path, a trail marker, a clearing, or a bench feel reassuring. Knowing others have gone this way before gives me hope and confidence that I am not lost. Once I know I am on the right track, I am able to move forward with confidence.

Similarly, there are times in life when I feel like I am lost in a wilderness. An unexpected crisis falls like a tree across my way, and I have no idea how to proceed. When the pathway in front of me is broken, I have learned to look to God for help. Sometimes I hear from Him immediately. Other times I don’t.  Prolonged periods of disorientation can be discouraging. Even in my desperation, I continually scan for signs of God’s presence. I pray for direction and discernment.  I do not ask to see too far ahead; I ask just enough guidance for the current phase. Each step I take requires trust. I move forward in gratitude. I am confident that God will provide clarity and truth according to His timetable. 

Lord, shine your light and your truth so that I can see the path clearly. Lead me. Let truth be my compass. Teach me to walk in trust and gratitude. 

 

Giving Up Your Rights

“Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.” (1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG)

Several years ago, my dad taught me a valuable lesson. He was packing for an international trip. Instead of taking the maximum amount of carry-on luggage that was allowed by the airlines, he packed his essentials into a small bag that would fit underneath the seat in front of him. I asked him why he would choose to relinquish his right to take two large bags like the rest of the passengers--not to mention the precious legroom on a long flight! He replied: “Most of the passengers will carry the maximum allowable luggage, thus filling up all the overhead bins on the airplane. If a few passengers like me are willing to give up their allotted space, someone else can have a bit more.” At the time, I thought my dad was making unnecessary sacrifices. I watched as people filed into the plane with more than their share of bags, taking advantage of any extra space. While I bristled at the unfairness of it all, my dad remained unperturbed. He wasn’t expecting anyone else to acknowledge, appreciate, or emulate his selflessness. 

Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it is spiritually appropriate. If we went around doing whatever we could get away with, we would be shackled to our whims. There are times when giving up our rights can have a higher purpose. Our sacrifices may not be acknowledged, appreciated, or emulated. This might seem unfair, impractical, and pointless. However, there is inherent value in self-restraint. Even if our choices are hidden from the public, we know. Our sense of self-respect is deeply intertwined with how we behave when no one is watching. Abstaining from our individual freedoms may benefit our personal growth as well as the world around us. Let us use our privilege to make good choices wisely.