Taking it all in

Okay, so this might be my favorite – I’ll probably say that a lot, but it is, so far! It’s a long one, so here goes…

…I think life is staggering and we’re just used to it. We all are like spoiled children no longer impressed with the gifts we’re given – it’s just another sunset, just another rainstorm moving in over the mountain, just another child being born, just another funeral.

I’ve wondered, though, if one of the reasons we fail to acknowledge the brilliance of life is because we don’t want the responsibility inherent in the acknowledgment. We don’t want to be characters in a story because characters have to move and breathe and face conflict with courage. And if life isn’t remarkable, then we don’t have to do any of that; we can just be unwilling victims rather than grateful participants.

News flash! This one hits me square in the head, right between the eyes! (snow) Anyone know what (snow) I’m getting at (snow)? There’s something (snow) that I’ve been (snow) complaining about recently (snow) instead of (snow) seeing it as an awesome (snow) gift from God! If you haven’t caught on, it’s SNOW!!! I hate the cold, and I usually let people know it. I’m a native Texan, so snow is NOT in my blood, like many Ohioans I come in contact with. I’m not usually a complainer; in fact, I frown upon those who are. But, for some reason, I make an exception when it comes to cold weather!

So, yesterday, the kids all went outside to play in the snow – all 12 inches of it – after school. Audrey (11), who had a friend over, Isaac (7) and Ian (4), got all bundled up and played for an hour or so. They had a blast. Cold and fun! And, it didn’t really hit me until today and as I read this statement again, that the way those kids look at snow (and every other thing, just about) is how we should look at life. Not as problems, frustrations, stuff we have to “deal with” but rather stuff we “get to experience” and enjoy. Now, this is not easy for me in this particular situation, as I’ve already made clear. However, I will try. And, it will take some work. But, I will try.

Life IS staggering…the snow is beautiful…the sun is warm…the stars are amazing…the fact that a car can use all four wheels to make driving safer is cool…the human body is crazy…babies are adorable…working out is difficult, but usually gives you good results, if you stick with it…the Bible is a gift…I have socks on my feet to keep them warm…technology has made life insane, but mostly in a good way…all these things, little and big, are from God. Even though Al Gore invented the Internet, he couldn’t have done it without God allowing it!

And, if we don’t see that, if we don’t recognize these gifts, then we are just “unwilling victims rather than grateful participants.” A long time ago, I learned the ACTS system of praying – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. The beauty of this system, and sometimes the hard and awkward part, is the Adoration. Sometimes I don’t know what to say besides “You are so awesome” – but recognizing and verbalizing adoration in ANY way, puts us in a place of humility, because we recognize that it’s all from him!

I read a definition of Humility once: understanding who we are in light of who God is. AWESOME!! Try being prideful after saying that a couple times out loud!! The next time you see your kids or get in your car or watch a sunset or sunrise or use your oven or update your Facebook status…be aware of how staggering life really is! And then tell God thanks!