Things That Matter

Daily Gratitude Year 6- Day 103: Today, I am grateful for things that matter. 

One of the things I would like to campaign to change is the way we have been programming ourselves through culture to avoid, deny, stuff or ignore pain. Grief and loss is one of the best examples of this phenomena in our culture.

We can't hardly bear to say "died" or "dead". We use euphemisms galore. Why? Because it is sad and it hurts. 

Of course, it hurts. When something matters, it has the power to hurt us, but what would this life be if nothing mattered? What if we never chose to love or make ourselves vulnerable? 

In order to experience great loss, we must first know great love. The seeds of that truth were planted in my heart as a teen.

 "What though the radiance which was once so bright Be now for ever taken from my sight, Though nothing can bring back the hour Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower; We will grieve not, rather find Strength in what remains behind; ." -William Wordsworth, poet 

What powerful words. Grief has the power to cripple us... or we can find strength in what feels like the ruins. It is a strength born of and shored up by a love that remains after a great loss. When we fear letting people matter so much that we avoid it, we miss half of the wild ride this life was meant to be.

"Maybe there's something you're afraid to say, or someone you're afraid to love or somewhere you're afraid to go. It's gonna hurt because it matters." -John Green 

The John Green quote is a more modern twist. Yes, we become vulnerable when we choose to love, but there is a joy that comes from that unique vulnerability that money, wealth, fame and fortune cannot buy. In fact, such luxuries get in the way in many cases. 

Jesus knew that. His ragamuffin band of disciples are proof. They had to walk away from their wealth or comfortable place to follow him. The rich young ruler wanted to... but he couldn't do it. He couldn't put Jesus before his wealth and position. Jesus knew that was the thing he needed to let go of to fully embrace "The Way". Two things must top the importance list. 

"Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’No other commandment is greater than these.”-Mark 12:29-31

If we get these two things right, there will be times we hurt. God's perfect will is not always in line with "our way". His ways are higher with a big picture in mind. Yet, if we love each other... we get through the tough stuff to His glory and it sweetens our sorrows and struggles. 

I could not help but think of James and Elizabeth Elliot, the St. James families and the other missionaries who gave their lives to carry the gospel where it had never been. It cost five men their lives... but it changed so many more. The seeds of love took root and grew. Great grief in God's timing, turned to unspeakable joy as lives were changed. 

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.-Jame Elliot 

The time on this pretty spinning little planet is relatively short... even with a long full life. Each day is a gift. Each dawn is precious. Each person we encounter matters to the God of the Universe. How will we use this day? 

Can we risk a little pain to know the joy of loving deeply? 

Today, I am grateful for things that matter.