You see, my birthday was this week. And it’s one of those numbers that makes you think a bit. 🙂
I don’t know if you experienced this, but somehow I absorbed the value of “never enough.” This worldly value takes all kinds of forms but most of them can be boiled down to these two:
1. I don’t have enough.
2. I am not enough.
Tony Evans tells me that “If your contentment is tied to your circumstances, you do not have biblical contentment.”
The Apostle Paul tells me that he “has learned” to be content no matter his circumstances (Phil. 4:11).
My (I believe) God-given passion for what is “right” tells me that there are injustices in place that have blocked me from “more.” (Please don’t misunderstand me – I recognize that the majority of my life has been marked by an abundance of privilege. Dominique Gilliard talks about how a person can be both privileged and oppressed.) Nevertheless, two weeks ago the Lord reminded me that there is a time to fight for “my rights” and there is a time to lay down my weapons. So, as I brought myself to God I received the invitation to lay down my weapons at least for a time. I started to cry. I don’t cry a lot, so I realized that God was trying to rearrange some things in my heart. Remember – “Stay with what stirs you.” God came near. And I am so grateful.
God is working this (anonymous) quote in me: “Contentment is a realization that life is a gift, not a right.” Too harsh? Too ignorant of justice issues? What do you think?
Contentment is my word for this year of my life. I invite you to join me. Has contentment been something you too have had to “learn” like the Apostle Paul? How do the values of our generations and cultures prepare us or hinder us from a life of contentment?
I’ll be ever so grateful for your thoughts!
[email protected] or phone: (269)932-8602
With love,
Pastor Karen
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