Gratitude 15 July 2010

I am grateful for unexpected connections.  I was at work today, when I met a coworker who found out that I was going to South Africa.  It turns out this coworker had been in the Peace Corps.  We got to talking for a little bit and she made quite a few recommendations for books and movies to watch while I prepare for my journey.

Gratitude 14 July 2010

I am grateful for freedom.  This applies both to the freedoms I enjoy as a citizen of the United States and as a Christian.  Regarding the former, I am free to express my thoughts in my blog without fear of repercussions of American laws.  Regarding the later, I am free to be in love with my neighbors without fear of repercussions of the Law when I live my life according to the Gospel.

Gratitude 13 July 2010

I am grateful for God's gift of grace through Jesus' death and resurrection.  God's grace enables us to be free from the constraints of the Law - free to love and serve all of God's creation.  The freedom of grace allows us to shift our focus from the doing constraints of the Law to the being in love that follows from the Gospel.

Gratitude 12 July 2010

I am grateful for rain, even when it rains so hard that your clothes get soaked all the way through no matter how long you are outside.  Rain brings much need nourishment to the soil.  Rain can also serve as a reminder of my baptism and the redeeming power of God's grace.

Gratitude 10 July 2010

Since I did not get a chance to post yesterday, today I will focus on two blessings.

First, I am thankful for the strong support of my family and friends in Christ.  Tonight's concert was a huge success and everyone's support encourages me as I prepare for South Africa.

Second, I am grateful for my dad.  I have never heard my dad sing before.  It means a lot to me that he decided to sing a song with my mom, sister, and me tonight at the concert.  God has truly blessed me to have such a wonderful father.

Gratitude 8 July 2010

I am grateful for packed lunches.  Not only do packed lunches save time and money, but they provide more time for reflection during lunch breaks.  I highly value time for self-reflection.

Gratitude 7 July 2010

I am grateful for living within walking distance of a bookstore.  Books are an amazing gift as they inspire creativity, imagination, deep thinking, learning, and in some cases social action.  Reading remains one of my favorite pastimes even in the age of electronic distractions.

Gratitude 6 July 2010

God grants us many blessings in life.  My goal is to be more conscious of God's blessings in my daily life.  To help with that, I am going to pick at least one thing I am grateful for each day and post it here on my blog.

Today, I am going to start with an easy, yet very important blessing.  I am grateful for my loving family.  They have supported me throughout my entire life - through the good and the bad.  I value their insight as I continually wrestle with God's call.  They have been supportive and tolerant of God's call, even as it leads me to far away places like Haiti and South Africa. I have been extremely blessed to have such a wonderful family.