Life is annoying. Not all the time, but there are moments when your plans and expectations are replaced with more pressing needs or unexpected distractions. These times can quickly steal your joy and affect other areas of your life.

We can not isolate ourselves from annoyances, and in the bigger picture, they are often quite insignificant. At any moment, we know that there are people facing much more difficult problems, who would gladly swap places with us. Still, like the proverbial stone in the shoe, the cumulative aggravation can drain our energy and draw us away from what really matters.

Recently, I planned a day for some creative activity. I intentionally adjusted my schedule to allow for activities that recreate my spirit and help me feel renewed. The night before, I discovered a small problem with one of my prescriptions, but I was thankful it would only require a phone call and a quick trip to the pharmacy.

I chose to be proactive, caring for this small disturbance at the start of the day so that I could get it out of the way quickly. Seven hours later, the situation was resolved. My original plans were lost. I felt some satisfaction that I was able to navigate all of the minutiae the problem required, but I could not deny the annoyance of losing the better part of a day to something that seemed it should be easily resolved.

The problem with annoyances is, unchecked, they affect our attitudes. This amplifies other small interruptions and increases our focus on negativity. We lose awareness of our blessings, and we begin to share our inner feelings with others, passing on our frustration and often wounding others. Our attitude becomes infectious, contaminating our environment and the hearts of those we love.

The prophet Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (8:10) The power to live a victorious life begins with spiritual joy. When we allow the issues of life to steal that joy, we sacrifice our strength as well, and we live from a place of frustration and defeat rather than blessing and victory.

I would love to tell you that I responded to my challenging day with a Spirit-filled attitude of joy. Instead, I allowed my emotions to rule the day and I can only imagine what I missed in the process. I know that I surrendered my creativity, gave room for unnecessary anxiety, and sowed seeds of negativity that I needed to uproot. Ultimately, I created more challenges for myself, and more work to repair the brokenness I created.

It would be easy to claim, “I am only human,” but I have within me the power to choose, to take a different path. While I could not change my circumstances, I could change myself in the midst of those circumstances. There were countless things to be thankful for, but my thankfulness was lost to frustration. This power is not uniquely mine. It belongs to us all.

Choosing joy is not always easy, but it is worth the effort. Pausing in the midst life’s annoyances gives us room to center ourselves on what really matters. Instead of attempting to force our agenda on life, we can respond to life with a sacred attitude, one that celebrates the sacramental nature of life, of ourselves, and of others. A simple change in mindset results in an entirely different experience.

So today, I invite you to learn along with me from my mistake. I encourage you to pause long enough to see life as it truly is, a blessing entrusted to us by God. As the annoyances come, train yourself to increase your joy, not because of the challenges, but in the face of them. Choose a different path, and find strength in the joy you receive. Every second of life is a treasure. We cannot hold onto the time, but we can decide where we will invest it, and that investment will determine the return we receive. Together, let’s choose joy and strength, trading our worry for wonder and our frustration for faith.

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Boring is often only a matter of perspective.

I remember taking my grandson shopping. My wife and daughter were trying on clothes, so he and I made our way to a sporting goods store. There was a play area for children outside, so we spent some time there before we went in the store to shop. I should say, before I went in the store to shop. There was nothing in the store that interested him.

I tried to look around, but he kept asking, “When we will be done?” and, “Can we go play outside again?” I asked him to be patient and wait, promising to go outside and play again. I looked in one of the display cabinets and when I looked up, he was gone. I panicked. After a few minutes of searching, I found him sitting behind another case with his head in his hands. “What are you doing? I asked. Without looking up he responded, “trying to wait patiently.” I took his hand and we went outside to play.

In the store, I was excited and deeply interested. He was bored. What I enjoyed was almost tortuous for him. What bored him, excited me. Boring truly was in the eye of the beholder.

Some of our shared Christian journey can seem boring. The worship music may not be our style. The pastor may not preach to our preferences. The readings may leave us uninspired, and the service may seem too long. It is easy to feel bored and disinterested. It is especially challenging in a culture of significant customization, where we can special order exactly what we like. Mingle that with the ever-growing consumer mentality and we begin shopping for churches that tick all of our boxes, and become disengaged from activities that don’t move us.

It this context, it is wise to ask the important questions. Is everything supposed to move me in the same way? Must everything meet my emotional and intellectual expectations? Does boring equal bad?

My grandson lacked the maturity to reflect on those questions while we shopped, but as adults, we can challenge ourselves to look at things through different eyes. I was not particularly excited by the outdoor play area, but I was excited to watch my grandson enjoy himself. The play area wasn’t made for me, but it was created for him, and it was no problem for me to sacrifice my desires for his joy.

What if our spiritual life was embraced with similar eyes? What if, instead of judging experiences based upon how they met our personal desires, we beheld them through they eyes, and needs of others, including God? What if our focus was on the blessings others received? What if our deepest question was, “Does this bring joy to God? Is it possible that what we find boring is what God loves, what others need, even what we need without knowing it?

I once shared a conversation with a woman who sat nearby in a coffee shop. She shared the she was Roman Catholic and attended the 7:30 am Mass at a nearby church. I asked why she chose that service and she replied, “Because the priest can get it done in 15-20 minutes.” After a brief pause she reflected, “That might not be the best reason. I just don’t find it interesting, so I am glad to get it over with.”

We all have things that we want to get through because they do not impact us the way we wish they did. Maybe we don’t fully understand them, maybe we don’t comprehend their significance, maybe we just need to behold them a different way. The fact that we are bored may say more about us that it does about the experience.

Certainly, we should offer God our best in everything we do, and I have endured experiences where the lack of investment was obvious. However, even those moments can yield beauty and blessings if we are open to receive them. If we change our desire from entertainment to encounter, then we begin to open our eyes to behold the One we love and who loves us.

The time with my grandson was immeasurably valuable. I don’t get as much time as I would like to be with him, and I can always shop when he is not around. My goal was not to shop, but to be with him, letting him know that he matters to me and that he is loved. Could it be that, if we approach our spiritual life in the same way, we might behold more than we imagined? Maybe what we find most boring will be the place we behold the greatest vision of God.

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This was his phrase for every absurd action, every difficult circumstances, and every hurtful comment, and the storyline of every special gave him many opportunities to use it. Of course, this fit Charlie Brown’s character: slightly depressed, often teased, and always coming up on the short end of the stick.

I know people like that. Sometimes, I’ve owned that characterization in my own life. The pathway there is not hard to find or difficult to follow. Something negative happens that grabs our attention and we begin to meditate on it. Soon, we notice other negative things in our lives and in the world around us. We become disgusted, hurt and depressed, and before you know it, life becomes one large and lengthy sigh.

This is exactly where the power of thanksgiving comes in. As we begin to identify the blessings in our lives and give voice to the good things we see; as we open our eyes to the beauty and wonder that surrounds us, is within us, and is us thanks to God, we change the focus of our attention. That simple, but powerful, change opens our eyes to more blessing and beauty and begins to reshape our attitude.

Developing this attitude of gratitude is much more than rehearsing a list of positive affirmations about ourselves. Sure, there is some value to looking at in the mirror, while speaking reminders of our self-worth, but that can easily become a daily narcissistic celebration. Real thanksgiving does more than celebrate us, it celebrates what makes life valuable. It recognizes the power and presence of God, and remembers those who bring goodness into our lives. Thanksgiving affirms the gifts, big and small, that season our lives with grace. It sees what makes life meaningful and gives us the tools to make life sing.

The Bible says that we are to enter God’s gates with thanksgiving. When we begin to offer thanks for life, we take the first steps in bringing our hearts closer to God. God still wants to know our hurts and our pain. God still cares about unjust parts of our lives and the world. Thanksgiving does not limit our ability to seek God’s answer to evil, but it sets the attitude of our heart in the right place to see what God is doing in the midst of painful circumstances and keeps us from losing ourselves to those circumstances.

This Thursday, as we celebrate the national holiday of Thanksgiving, we will have an opportunity to “say grace.” This moment of thankfulness may be just the ticket to seeing life in a new way. Instead of defining our lives by negativity, we can find our identity in God. Rather than adopting a heart that speaks “good grief” we can embrace a spirit of “good grace.”

A chorus I remember singing in church when I was young said, “Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Count your many blessings, see what God has done.” This Thanksgiving, may you see, count and name your many blessings and may you be filled with Good Grace.

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I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard those words, and how many times I said them. There are times when all of us would rather not expend the metal effort to take in more information. Sometimes we feel too tired or maybe the material does not excite us, but whatever the reason, we don’t feel like learning any more.

Most of us can relate to feeling little or no motivation to study, but there is a deeper challenge when it comes to living our faith that threatens to leave us unprepared for the work of ministry and the challenges of life that we will experience. That challenge is not the lack of motivation, but the lack of desire. When we move beyond “I don’t feel like it” to “I don’t want to” the situation is much more serious, and when the subject is our faith journey the impact can be devastating. That may sound dramatic, but when it comes to living and sharing the Christian life, the results of our choices have eternal significance.

The Apostle Paul told his younger protege, Timothy, “Study to show yourself approved.” (2 Timothy 2:15) There is a real need for Christians to invest time and themselves in the work of study for the sake of their faith journey and their impact with the Gospel. It is true,that many modern translations of this verse replace the word “study” with “discipline yourself” but a necessary part of that discipline is renewing the mind and spirit through study.

Too many times as a pastor, I hear people say, “Just tell me what to believe (or do).” The implication is that they would rather blindly follow someone else’s direction than do the hard work themselves, yet that is exactly what they need. More than a simple answer or a personal direction from the pastor, the real knowledge lies in allowing the Spirit to use their studious efforts mingled with divine revelation. Pastoral insight may be a part of that process, but there is so much more. I once has a door hanger that read, “I trust in the Lord, but I still have to study.” The quote is cute, but full of truth for all of us.

Our faith is surely more than academic, but it still requires our study. No sermon or teaching will replace time spent reading the Word of God, engaging the reflections of the community of faith over several millennia, and gaining the insights of the knowledge and wisdom of others. John Wesley, the founder of the Wesleyan denominations (including my own, the United Methodist Church) exemplified a model that engaged Scripture, tradition, experience and reason. We need to incorporate all four, and we need to do the work, not wait for someone else to do it for us.

We want to offer God our very best and that includes the mind and intelligence we were blessed with. Our study need not be laborious, but it must not be avoided.

In the coming days, I will be sharing some suggestions to help encourage and empower your study. For now, however, it is enough to encourage us all to take Paul’s advice and study so that we can show ourselves to be those approved.

Be blessed in this day and in your study. May God’s divine revelation multiply your efforts.

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While my experiences with dental work were always good, I did not look forward to the surgery or the recovery. If it could have been avoided, I would have done just that. No one likes to experience pain but, as in the case my tooth extraction, it can be necessary to get to where we need to go.

What I did not expect were the blessings that would come from this experience. Yes, I expected to be healthier and in less discomfort once the damaged tooth was removed, but the other blessings were a welcome surprise.

I was able to catch up on some much needed sleep and to spend a quantity of quality time with my wife and youngest daughter (even if the pain medication made me a little odd at times). I found time to read for work and for pleasure, to get caught up on computer work and to solve a few crossword puzzles. I found the joy in simple things like the comfort of lemon ice, the taste of store brand ice cream, and the pleasure of eating solid food again (especially when that food is my wife’s homemade meatloaf and mashed potatoes).

There were also the more meaningful blessings like the prayers, thought and calls of family and friends, the welcome at church as I enjoyed my first day out, and the welcome of friends the following day as I joined them for coffee. I especially appreciated the time I spent aware of the presence of God in prayer, devotions and meditation.

In the midst of a challenging and somewhat painful time, came a myriad of unexpected, yet very welcome blessings. As I look back over the past week, I cannot help but think of what a small sample of life it represents. How many important blessings are only discovered when we walk through challenges? How much life is there to be found even in the midst of pain.

None of us want pain and challenge, but when we must go through them, maybe we can find strength by looking at the blessings they uncover and the new opportunities they present. Throughout my recovery, my wife kept offering me things to, “help take my mind off of the pain.” Maybe, when when our focus is on God, friends and family, and on the precious blessings that are ours in the midst of our adversity, we can do just that.

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It is easy to think of Easter as one day on the calendar, just as it is easy to think of the resurrection as an event that took place nearly two millennia ago. In both cases, such a belief only serves to hide the examples of God’s resurrection power from our lives. New life is bursting forth all around us, and not just in the signs of spring. God is alive and the same power that raised Christ from the dead is setting people free from the chains of death that bind them. Jesus really did come to bring freedom to the oppressed and set the captives free.

As we continue our celebration of resurrection in our lives, our families, our communities and the world, we honor not only what God did, but what God is doing even now. We open our eyes to the miracles that surround us and we open ourselves to the possibilities of partnering with God to bring the Easter light to the darkest corners of the world.

Easter is a message the world needs to hear, but even more importantly, it is a reality the world needs to experience. We are greatly blessed by God for salvation has come to us, but our blessing, our salvation, is not ours to hide for ourselves. Like everything that comes from the infinite love of God is was given to be shared.
As Christians, it’s all Easter! Receive it! Celebrate it! Live it, and share it! May we be living testimonies to the great things God has done!

Easter blessings, as we journey on the way.

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That was exactly how I felt yesterday, as I stared at a blank screen pondering what to write for my blog post. I’ve actually felt that way off-and-on for several days. I love to write, but I simply did not feel inspired. Then, last night, I got the word.

While watching a rerun of an episode of Art Race, one of the competitors shared some insight with a class of art students. Sharing a quote he heard, he said, “Inspiration is for amateurs; real artists go to work.”

I was cut to the quick. Sitting around waiting for inspiration, I avoided taking the difficult step of being creative anyway. I was waiting for some external stimulus to motivate me, when that motivation needed to come from me.

It is all too easy to allow our actions to follow our feelings, but that is a backward approach. In reality, our feelings follow our actions. We do not wait for the endorphins to kick in before we begin our exercise. We do not wait to feel loving before we begin to love. We do not wait for inspiration to take on the tasks of the day. In each situation, we decide to act and then we can celebrate when the feelings follow.

So, truthfully, I am not sure I am feeling inspired, but I am stepping out in faith, believing inspiration will rise up with each step. I can feel it stirring even now.

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I am especially thankful because I know that I am not an especially patient person. Part of me still echoes my younger voice, asking repeatedly, “Are we there yet?” I do not wait well and anticipation can make me anxious.

The challenging part of this self-knowledge is that I know it reveals a part of my ego that has yet to fully submit to God. Not long ago, I read somewhere that ego can be an acronym for “Edging God Out” and truthfully, I see that in my impatience.

I am not being hard on myself, just real. When I become impatient and want things to go my way and to go that way now, I am putting myself first and thinking more highly of myself than I ought. The root of impatience is the belief that the world exists to serve me and make me happy. That is a far cry from the revelation of scripture.

My life in Christ is about putting him first and serving others in his name. I am called to “humbly consider others more esteemed than myself.” that is not always an easy task, but it is my call nevertheless. It is the call of all who claim Christ and seek to grow in his likeness. By serving others, we serve Christ and we represent the heart of God who demonstrates his love for us through great sacrifice.

I am thankful form the patience I receive from others and I pray that God will increase my sensitivity to the need to offer the same gift to others. Today, I share the prayer of John the Baptist that I may decrease so that Christ may increase, and I pray that together, our witness will lead others to experience the patient love of God.

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“Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face” – Victor Hugo

Sometimes, it is hard to laugh; hard to find the joy in the moment or the day. Circumstances mixed with our emotional position can deeply affect our mood and our feelings, leaving us without the feeling of joy or a desire to laugh.

This morning, I awoke with the gift of a Christmas cold. It was not the gift I was looking for, and after a week healing from my recent fall and battling a stomach flu, I could have done without it. My energy was sapped and with it, my creativity and desire to do much of anything. I rested on the sofa wishing my sinuses would clear and that the aches and pains would fade. I wasn’t very joyful and I certainly wasn’t laughing.

During some quiet time, while my wife was shopping and my daughter was working on Christmas presents, I paused for some meditation and reflection. I was attempting to take my mind off of how I felt, but it became an epiphany from God. As I sat quietly, I realized that I was beginning to think like a victim. I lamented my aches and pains with the added frustration that this is the holiday season and I wanted to enjoy it, when I asked myself the question, “Then, why don’t you just enjoy it?”

I would have preferred a voice that affirmed my right to pout and was willing to commiserate with me. Instead, I heard the words of the Apostle Paul as he closed his letter to the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” I sighed, wondering why that command needed to come to mind at the time, but I already knew the answer. I needed to rejoice and my sense of joy was not dependent upon my circumstances. As I heard someone say, “We rejoice by choice.” The real question was would I make that choice.

It is a harsh reality to accept that feelings follow actions, not the other way around. It would be so much easier if we could blame our attitudes and actions on our circumstances or on others. If only we could claim that it was all out of our control, but no such scapegoat exists.

I actually began laughing, but I was laughing at myself, at my self-pity and moaning. Sure, I would prefer not to be sick, but it is still the day the Lord has made, and I can choose to rejoice and be glad in it. I actually have so much to be thankful for and to rejoice in. I have people I love and who love me too. I am warm in a region covered in cold and snow, and I food to eat in a world that is filled with hunger. Christmas is still coming and God is still in control. Cards hang on the wall offering their Christmas blessing and I’ve already received some wonderful gifts. I not only have enough, I have more than I need. Above all, this minor virus will pass, but many people, including some close to me, will continue to struggle with serious illnesses.

As I approach the end of the day, I am glad the call to rejoice is written as a command. It is easy to find joy when all is well and going our way, but the real gift of God is finding joy in all of the other circumstances as well. Maybe, it was good for me to be sofa-bound today, because it heightened my awareness and made a way for the Holy Spirit to teach me a valuable lesson.

In this season of joy, I pray that all of us will find the reasons to rejoice because of, or in spite of, our circumstances. As children of God we can, “rejoice in the Lord always,” and always includes right now. May the joy of the Lord overtake you in this season, and may it bring forth the laughter that drives the winter from your face.

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My devotions recently led me to a wonderful reflection on kindness in the form of a story from the ancient Christians:

Abba Moses was asked to travel to another community to pass judgement on someone caught in sin. He refused to go, but the pressure for him to make the trip continued. Finally, he agreed to make the journey. As he left, he took a basket, poked a few holes in it, filled it with sand and set out. Along the way, many asked the point of the leaky basket to which he replied, “My sins are running out behind me.” The people understood and the one found in sin was immediately forgiven.

The one who understands they have been forgiven much, understands the need to offer forgiveness to others. When we grasp the kindness of God toward us and the blessing on the kindnesses we’ve been shown along the way by others, we respond by being kind to others. No one can be aware of God’s great kindness and not, in turn, be kind.

If we are truly putting our faith into practice, then kindness will be a hallmark of our attitude and actions. It is an expression of our faith and a litmus test for where we are on our spiritual journey.

When we consider the injustices we face, the rudeness we experience, and unkindness of the world, we can feel justified in being unkind ourselves. But, when out attention is on the loving kindness of God, there is no such justification, no matter what our circumstances. We can stand up for justice and righteousness. We can hold up truth and mercy. But, we cannot do these things without kindness. Even in our most powerful defense of our position, we cannot know the kindness of God, and choose to be unkind.

In this season, where we sing about peace on earth, and where we remember the power of God’s love toward the whole world, it is time to do more than sing and talk, it is time to act.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians said, “Be kind, one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you.” (4:32)

May those who know us and those who meet us, experience this kindness in all we say and do. Let us look at our own lives in light of the kindness we receive, that we may see others through the lens of that kindness, and let us bless others with the very blessing we received.

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