I often find it amusing
when it is lashing rain and someone says to me, ‘Isn’t it an
awful day?’ And I say, ‘Yes it is, thank God’. I usually
get a weird look that says, ‘What do you mean ‘thank God’?’
But why should we not thank God just because it is raining? The rain
may not suit us always, the sun may not suit others always, but
that’s no reason not to give thanks to God for it. It is a gift
from him, like many other things, even if it doesn’t suit us.
We tend to see our world or universe as
being the center of things, often with God as an optional extra as it
were; someone on the outside. However, it is in fact the other way
around. God is at the center of things and we are the optional
extra. We were created by God and we need not be here. Now you might
think that that makes us pretty small and insignificant in many ways.
Well it does. We are. We like to think of ourselves as extremely
important, especially the higher up we get in the world, but the fact
is we are all the exact same with the same need for God. Once we
begin to recognize this it actually makes life a lot easier because
it takes a lot of pressure off us. The world doesn’t depend on us
alone to save it. The future of the human race isn’t being
sustained by me alone. The people of Fort Myers aren’t depending on
me as a priest to say the right thing, to make sure they all get to
heaven and it’s just as well!
The governments today often talk about
their decisions as though they themselves were God, as though the
future of the human race was solely in their hands. Fortunately for
us all it is not. We are important of course, and we certainly have a
big responsibility to do the right thing in the world and to make
sure that there is a good future for those who come after us, but the
Lord God of heaven and earth is also there helping us. So we have a
lot to be thankful for.
At the moment we seem to be hearing
almost nothing but bad news, how awful everything is and how little
hope there is. It is very hard not to be affected by it when we are
getting this from the news on an hourly basis, not to mention all the
chat shows. By their nature news programs tend to dwell on bad and
dramatic news, but I think it is important for us not to let that be
the main influence on the way we think, or we will begin to see the
world as a very dark place. Yes we are in distressing times and there
are plenty of problems, but the fact is that most of us are
surviving. I would imagine that everyone here has enough to eat, has
a roof over their heads at night. We probably have a car to get
around in and we probably are able to provide for our children, even
if it is not as lavish as we would like. The truth is we have an
awful lot to be grateful for.
When I find myself becoming negative and
wishing things were better—and believe me I complain just as much
as anyone!—I find it a great help to start giving thanks to God for
as many things as possible. In the morning I say, ‘Thank you Lord
for a good night’s rest; thank you for a hot shower and a breakfast
to eat. Thank you that I have decent clothes to wear and enough money
in my pocket to survive. Thank you for the friends I have and also
for the people I don’t like. I also try not to listen to too many
news programs during the day as they tend to get me down. Remember
that all of the things we listen to during the day do affect how we
think and how we see the world.
Think for a moment about the teachings
of Jesus during his life on earth. They are very positive, very
encouraging and very compassionate. Even when he spoke about the end
of the world and the disciples said, ‘When will this happen?’ He
basically said, ‘Don’t worry about that. It doesn’t concern
you.’ To sum up his teaching: we are asked to love and serve while
we are here on earth. Then when our time is complete the Lord will
bring us home to be with him. That makes it very simple. We do our
best and try to stay focused on the one who gives us life and gives
us everything we have.
We have a lot to be grateful for. So maybe the next
time you want to ask God’s help for something in prayer, take a
moment first to thank God for the many things He has given you and
then ask for your needs. And maybe even thank God for the rain the
next time it’s lashing and you’re about to get soaked!
‘In the world you will have trouble. But do not be
afraid, I have overcome the world.’
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