It can be hard to be grateful when things don’t go your way, when you are fearful of the changes that are coming.
It may be difficult to be grateful when your body is sick or diseased, or when you are in the middle of a financial challenge.
Gratitude may be the last thing you think about when someone upsets you and you are in conflict with a loved one or others. Yet being grateful is truly the only way to open the door to realizing peace, joy and love here and now.
“See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18
It is hard for me to be grateful that we appear to be living in a post-truth age.
The recent election was a boon for fact checkers where much if not most of the claims being made were false and misleading information being portrayed as facts; lies seem to be the new truth. If we agree with it, it must be true. If not, it is not.
“For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. Pilate asked him, ‘What is truth?’” John 18:37-38
I still believe the internet holds much promise for connecting disparate groups of people bringing us closer together. And it now appears to be separating us based upon personal bias.
Algorithms that control social media show us what we want to see based upon past choices and hides from us what we don’t want to see. We seem to exist within a bubble online, an echo chamber where we mostly hear what we want to hear. I am grateful that people are becoming aware of this situation.
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose… What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” Romans 8:28, 31
I have been accused of being naive and mislead for not believing false information. Objectively verifiable evidence to the contrary is dismissed as opinions or hearsay.
Legitimate news sources are no longer believed and propaganda machines disguised as news sources are believed when it agrees with our personal bias. I am grateful for an understanding heart and a questioning mind.
“But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.” John 8:45
I am grateful for I know something new is coming. “There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear.” Buffalo Springfield 1967.
Changes are occurring. Progress is being made. Evolution may not be the upward linear movement we think it is. Yet, it is always moving us toward a greater and more fulfilling expression of life.
“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” Mt 24:6-8
I am grateful for God is great; good is greater than evil. Light is greater than darkness for darkness has no real existence. Darkness is the apparent absence of light, just as evil is the apparent absence of good. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:5
Appearances are deceiving. So, in order to maintain some sanity, I have to look beyond these appearances to the spiritual reality of God’s great good working in and through and as all things. God is great and I am grateful. Thank you God for good is everywhere.
Please affirm with me, “I relax, I let go, I let God’s good come forth!” Be the change you wish to see. Be the light!
Blessings of peace, joy & love.
The Rev. Matthew E. Long, Peace Unity Community