by James Wilson
Last
December my wife and I were as close to burnout as we have ever been. Leading a parachurch ministry is always edgy;
we had not seen a paycheck in two-plus years.
Yet by God’s grace we gave thanks for all we had and for all needs being
met. Then we were shock-surprise-gifted
with a fabulous two week vacation in Hawaii.
The airfare was fruit of bonus miles from ministry trips; the condo from
the unexpected generosity of an old friend.
While there we received one surprise gift after another – from five
days’ swimming with sea turtles off a beach where I had never seen them before
– to finding parking places much later in the day than they are ever available,
to bringing home my favorite Aloha shirt, bought at a street stand discovered
after a wrong turn.
All
of these things are unquestionably gifts from God. But the cultivation of a mindset that
believes and appreciates in advance as much as after the fact is what I call
seeking a Eucharistic heart.
The
word is Greek for thanksgiving; it traditionally names the Holy Communion. When we choose to receive whatever comes as
gift even before it comes we come to see things through the eyes of the God Who
gives them. Perspective broadens and the
ability to respond to opportunities grows.
A Eucharistic heart embodies Jesus’ promise we’ll be taught what we need
to know in the very hour we need to know it.
This promise is important enough to repeat in three Gospels. But such a heart cannot be grown through
human effort. It comes as a gift asked
repeatedly.
Truth
is we are so steeped in our survival-of-the-fittest worldview we rarely think
to thank. We are (too) busily tilting at
the next windmill, like nine of the ten lepers Jesus heals in Luke
17:11-19. He tells the one who turned,
“Your faith has made you well,” though all were cleansed. This because all lost their leprosy while one
gained a newly authentic life.
Jesus
Himself gives thanks for having a few loaves and fish to feed thousands, for
Lazarus in the tomb four days, and while dining with disciples hours before his
death. He sees opportunity where others
see disaster – not because He is committed to looking on the bright side, but
committed to referring Himself to His Father through thanksgiving – He can then
see the world through the Father’s eyes and respond through the Father’s
heart. We are not called to achieve a
new perspective, but to forge a new habit that will take a lifetime of asking
and practicing to establish. This is an
act of progressive repentance that goes way beyond sorrow for sin. It shows and draws us toward new life.
The
Pilgrims of Plymouth practiced this heart.
Their numbers cut in half by disease and starvation, they kept choosing
to give thanks for the life God had given.
They kept asking Him to give grace to thank and praise Him. When local tribes taught them to grow food
and provided much of their first harvest feast it was natural to share and give
thanks despite the dangers that still lay ahead. But it was natural only because they had been
practicing simple obedience to the scriptural command. Part of the new perspective they gained was
conviction to treat the tribal people as children of God. The Pilgrims were rare colonists in that they
respected and appreciated their neighbors.
Last
September my radio sponsor base was so depleted by the ongoing recession that cancellation
was imminent. Forced to cancel a family
trip by illness, we gave thanks – and gained three new sponsors.
Some
say, “But what about people starving and dying of disease? Aren’t they as worthy as you? Don’t they give thanks?” Some thank and some don’t; I’m not to
judge. But we are worthy to know of Jews
who covered their heads to pray while awaiting death in Auschwitz. A Eucharistic heart gives thanks for their
witness and for the conviction that it must never happen again, whatever I
might have to do to stop it.
I don’t
understand how God acts from situation to situation. As a Christian I try to serve those in need
and pray that all needs will be met, not just mine. But I do know that when I operate out of a
Eucharistic heart not only am I better able to see the wonders God performs in
my life; I am better able to serve Him in the lives of others. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. May it be not a day but a developing
lifestyle.
James A. Wilson is the author of Living
As Ambassadors of Relationships and The
Holy Spirit and the End Times – available at local bookstores or by
e-mailing him at
praynorthstate@charter.net
No comments:
Post a Comment