Unforced Rhythms of Grace

"Are you tired?  Worn Out? Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."  Matthew 11:28-30, the Message

This was the verse one of our pastors read this morning.  And it reminded me that I love this passage. I especially love the verse "Learn the unforced rhythms of grace."  It has always struck me as  an amazing mental image, a beautifully poetic description of what life with God should be like.

And yet, I feel like that is not what people think of when they think of having a relationship with God.  Some people think of an angry God, who is waiting to jump all over you with punishment when you step out of line.  Some people think of a genie in the bottle God, that if they do everything just right, He will grant their every desire and wish.  Some think of a God who is and always will be disappointed in them, and they try to somehow earn his love and favor by what they do.

And while God is multifaceted, just like we as humans are, I think that this piece of scripture paints a clear picture of who God is, and of the relationship he desires to have with you.  Listen, I get it.  I've grown up in church and even I have found myself bemused and befuddled trying to figure this  relationship thing with God out.  Is he an angry God?  Is he a rules oriented God?  Is he an uncaring God?  Is he someone who grants wishes?  Which rules should I follow?  Am I supposed to blindly agree with every "spiritual leader" I encounter because they say they have heard from God?  Some of the Christian stuff seems very complicated.  Even to me, a Christian.

And then we throw out special lingo that even I do not always understand... Talk about valleys and high places, the phrase "I don't feel led", and hedge of protection to name a few-- and lets get this straight, I've even said some of these things myself.  But really, what does this mean?

I think the real question is what does God want from me?  And I know that there can be some really complicated, theoretical answers to this question, but for me, those complicated answers are not helpful.  I, myself, need a straightforward answer that I can understand.  And I do not think I am alone in this.

So for those of you who are smarter than I am, who are more learned, who have studied the scripture more in depth, please pardon my simple answer to this question.  Because the truth is, I am probably not answering this question for you-- you have probably already answered this question for yourself in far more eloquent terms.

But, when I really needed the answer to this question in my life, I didn't need or want or have time for an in depth answer.  I needed the down and dirty, simple, easily understood, cliff notes version.  And my simple answer to the question of what does God want from me is this:  relationship.  God wants a relationship with me.


Having said that, anyone who has any kind of relationship with anyone understands that relationships do take some work.  They do not just magically happen.  But still, once I really got this piece of the puzzle in my brain, it helped me to sort everything else out.

I'm not sure why this has struck me so hard today.  Maybe it's because Easter is coming, and I want people to know that for me, Easter is a time of just being in awe of all that God was willing to do in order to have a relationship with me.  It's humbling.  It is the greatest love story ever written.  And it is story about me and a story about you.  Because God desires a relationship with not only me, but with you.

I do not know who this blog is for today.  And may just be a blog for me, to remind me that what God desires from me is relationship.  That's ok.  It's a good reminder.

So, to circle back to the phrase "unforced rhythms of grace."  That phrase, probably because I am a visual person, conjures up certain images in my mind.  Like tall grass moving in waves with the wind.  Waves in the ocean breaking on shore.  Standing in a darkened cathedral, smelling the candle wax, and listening to the quiet within.  Hearing a bird sing a morning song.  Watching a sunrise or sunset.  Seeing a gazelle run.  All of those things have an intrinsic sense of rhythm to them.  So I'll leave you with a few photos that come to mind when I read this passage.  One more thought before I get to the photos, if you would like to see what a relationship with God is about, I encourage you to find a church and speak to a pastor/leader.  Don't be afraid to ask questions, that's how you learn about another person in a relationship-- same with God.  Have a great week!  May you find rhythms of grace this week.

Perfection is not the definition of Goodness

This is a photo of the Palace of Versailles in France.  It is lavish, (yes there really are gold gates at the palace), stunning, and awe inspiring.  

It's most notable owner was King Louis XIV, who took the place from a mere hunting lodge to a Palace that lodged the King as well as the French court.  He was known as the  Roi-Soleil (the Sun King)  and you see this theme throughout the palace with likenesses of the king carved into the center of the sun (like in the photo above).  This idea stemmed from his belief that he was God chosen to be King and therefore answered to no one but God.

The floors are spectacular.

The rooms are lavish.

It draws visitors with its architectural grandeur.

Everything was done by the "best" artists of the time.  The best painters, sculptors, architects, and gardeners.  Nothing short of perfection was acceptable.

Opulence abounds.

 Even the gardens are laid out perfectly.  The king was involved in every detail, wanting it to be perfect.  He desired to show the world his ultimate power.  His exacting landscape design was meant to show that he even had power over nature.  To this day, Versailles is associated with the Sun King.  It still bears the standard for perfectionism in architecture, art, landscape, wealth, abundance and power.

But all that perfectionism, all that beauty, all that wealth and power did not necessarily make life good for the people of France.

Let's step away from Versailles for a moment and instead look at the word good.  The basic definition in the dictionary is "to be desired or approved of, having the qualities required for a specific role, that which is morally right, or to be well."  Notice the lack of the word perfect in any of the mentioned definitions.

Let's take another step and go to one of the first stories in the Bible to mention the word good, Genesis 1:31.  It says, ""God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."  I have always wondered at that wording.  I mean, what God did was pretty incredible-- he created a whole world, full of amazing creatures and beautiful landscapes, and the only words used to describe all of this was "very good?"  Not perfect, not fabulous, not marvelous, not superlative, not even exceptional.  Very good, that's what it says.  Simply that.

The other fact I find interesting about this small piece of the story, is that God, being who He is, knew what was to come from his creation.  He knew that people would mess up this paradise he had worked so hard to create.  He knew that his creation would one day kill his own son, Jesus.  And even with all of that knowledge, he still looked at it and called it not just good, but very good.

I believe that this small piece of scripture contains a key truth about life.  That good doesn't mean perfect.  A good life is not a perfect life.  Perfection in all things is unattainable at best, and unsustainable.  No one's life is perfect.  But everyone can have a good life.  

I am striving to have a good life, not a perfect one.  Don't get me wrong, I try to do things to the best of my ability, but my ability for perfection in everything is sorely lacking.  And I find when I strive for perfection and miss the mark, it brings with it worry, and  worry cannot reside with a sense of goodness.  Philippians says it this way,

"Don't fret or worry.  Instead of worrying, pray.  Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns.  before you know it, a sense of Gods wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down.  It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-- the best, not the worst;  the beautiful, not the ugly;  things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and what you saw and realized.  Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies."  Philippians 4:6-9  the message.

By acknowledging that life isn't meant to be perfect, we free ourselves to let life be good.  Even when life is hard, it still can be good if we take the time to stop and truly think about all the good around  in our lives.  Some people call this mindfulness, some people call this process reflection,  the verses above simply refer to controlling your thought process.  Whatever you want to call it, I dare you to try it.  If you are feeling today like your life is not good, but everyone else's life is perfect, try thinking on those things mentioned in Philippians.   Start small if you have to... the fact that you have someone or something in your life that you love is a step towards recognizing that there is goodness in your life.  It is a shifting of your focus.  I am a firm believer in the whole you see what you look for aspect of life.  This is not a put your head in the sand mentality, ignoring things that are bad.  Not at all, in fact in the first part of the scripture above  encourages you to pray about the aspects of your life that  are not good. It still allows for you to acknowledge the hard, while also focusing on the good.

The other aspect of this  whole process I want to point out is that it doesn't say that God will make the problem go away.  Sometimes this happens and we should rejoice.  But often, the hard facets of life do not just miraculously go away, we have to instead find a way to deal with them.  And God, in his mercy lets us know that he is there to help us out by giving us peace.

So, I try every day to remember that while I do not have a perfect life, I have a good one.  Don't get caught up in looking at what you think of as others "perfect lives."  There is no such thing.  But instead, focus on the good in your life, and see what happens.  My guess is that you will start to feel lighter, even if your circumstances do not change.

I'll circle back around to Versailles.  Although outwardly the architecture and gardens of Versailles are arguably perfect to behold, they failed to hide or wipe away the imperfections that France faced.  Poverty of the common people, famine, and greed still existed, and eventually brought about the downfall of the monarchy.  Even the Sun King couldn't conform the entirety of a nation to his vision of perfection.  

I'll leave you with a few more photos from this amazing palace.  Hope you have a good day (not a perfect one, but good still the same).

God Writes the Best Stories

This is a photo of Budapest, Hungary at night from the Danube River.  We were lucky enough to visit this incredible country this past spring.  The scene in this photo is iconic and peaceful.. it's what people picture in their minds when they think of Budapest.

But the country of Hungary has an interesting history.  Their history as a country includes being conquered several times, being split up, and even having a revolution.  They also have a history of picking the wrong side in wars.  In World War I they allied with Germany and Austria.  This alliance caused many Hungarians to die for foreign interests and lead to the overrunning of Hungary by the Atlantic countries and the splitting up of the country of Hungary.

They didn't do any better with World War II when they once again sided with Germany against the Soviets.  After that defeat, the Soviets took over the country and stayed for 44 years.   I bet that was not how the country of Hungary thought things would play out when they jumped into the fray.

Which brings me to my thoughts for today.  This morning I came across this sentence... God writes the best stories... and it gave me pause.  Then, when I opened my Bible to read, one of the first verses I read was this one

"We humans keep brainstorming options and plans, but God's purpose prevails."  Proverbs 19:21 the message


2017 is almost gone.  How did your year turn out?  Did it turn out as you expected?  Did things turn out differently than you thought they would?  I can tell you that my 2017 did not go the way I had planned..... AT ALL!  Truly this has been one of the most topsy turvy years I have ever gone through.  It seems like everything I had planned out got thrown into a big old blender and instead of making milkshakes.. something else entirely came out of the mix.

And I have to tell you, there were multiple times that I questioned whether or not God knew what He was doing.  He kept adding different ingredients to the mix and I would look at Him like, are you sure God?  I'm not sure that this milkshake is going to taste good with that thrown in there.  And there were some ingredients thrown in that I did not like at all.  Things that I didn't like the taste of.

And yet, here I sit at the end of the year... in a new city... in a new to me house... in a whole different place than I had planned to be... drinking in this life that God has mixed up for me in the blender... and I am drawn to the statement I read this morning... God writes the best stories.

Wow!  What a true statement.  This story, this mixed ingredient milkshake entitled 2017, has turned out way different than I had planned for, but it is tasting better than anything I would have come up with on my own.  The story is sweeter, better, well blended, and well written because it is written and directed by God.

Don't get me wrong, God didn't take out the bitter parts of the recipe, but He blended those parts along with the sweet so that this year's bitter parts harmonize with the sweet in such a way as to be more palatable, to taste better.  Kind of like the blending of savory and sweet or hot and sweet in cooking.  It works.  And it all works beautifully.

So, if you are like me, and you are coming up on the end of 2017 and thinking that none of this is how you had thought things would go, I pray that you find solace in the fact that you are not the one who is writing the story, God is.  And I can tell you that God is good and that God loves you.

And so, I am sitting here, in my new to me office, enjoying my coffee, and the sunrise, and the story of this crazy roller coaster of a year.  And I think to myself, God really does write the best stories.  I am so grateful and I can't wait to see the story He has planned for next year.  (I will admit I am kind of hoping for a few less free falls in the roller coaster, just saying).

Just a little follow up on the country of Hungary.  Although their history is full of plans that did not go the way they had thought they would, they are now a solidly independent country.  Budapest is listed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  They are known for their architecture and culinary delights.  The Hungarians are an amazing people who kept their unique language and culture alive even through  44 years of Soviet rule, when their language and culture were basically outlawed.  So, Hungary is a very different country than what the leaders had planned, but the photos below illustrate how beautiful the story has become.  Have a great Christmas and New Year!

I am Soul Sore ... and at Peace

Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

I was deep in a heavy hearted discussion with my husband the other day... struggling to find the appropriate words to describe how I have been feeling this year.. and I came up with the phrase Soul Sore.. and it just seemed to fit.  It fit not only how I am feeling, but I also think it fits how our nation and even our world is feeling this year.

I would define or describe Soul Sore as walking around with a bruise so deep that it reaches down to the core of your being-- clear down into the depths of your soul.  It's not a gaping wound, but it's a sore spot that seems to linger.. and every once in a while something brushes up against it and causes it to throb.  It doesn't always sit out in the open like an open wound, but it never quite leaves you-- never quite heals up all the way.  Soul Sore-- it's a deep sorrow that lingers and clings to you, not always up front and on view, but always there.  Soul Sore.  Dulling the joy, and heightening the pain.

Some of my Soul Soreness is coming from my personal life... my mother is nearing the end of her 12 year battle with cancer, and my Soul is Sore and aches for her physical pain and the emotional pain of my whole family.  My son is growing into an adult and making both good and bad decisions and I worry, as all mothers do during this transition time... Soul Sore for the bad decisions, yet glad for the good ones.. and balancing how much and when to step in and give advice and help.  Soul Sore for friends who are going through tough and hard times, both physically and emotionally.  Soul Sore for other family members struggling with health issues.  Soul Sore because I know that there are other endings coming our way, ones that are being added to our very full calendar and I am not at yet at liberty to discuss, even as I write this blog.

Soul Sore over the endless anger and pain that seems to be pouring out of everyone in our country right now.  Soul Sore over the loss of life caused by senseless acts of anger.  Soul Sore over the problems arising from several natural disasters.  Soul Sore over the fact that there are millions of people displaced in this world due to wars and famine.  Soul Sore over the  violence, hunger, thirst, and despair that still stalk our planet.


Oh dear God, some days my Soul is Sore.

I believe the following verses in Psalm describe this feeling,  this Soul Sore feeling...

"I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me.  When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted."  Psalm 77:1-2

If you are in this place, this place of Soul Soreness,  I hear you.  I understand it.  I know it can be overwhelming.  I have lived there (and sometimes to be honest, I still do, in moments of time, struggle there... this Soul Soreness hits me sometimes without warning).  It is raw.  It isn't pretty.  But it's real.

I have learned a few things about life (not everything but a few things). At least for me, I've learned that there are some years that leave a mark on you-- some may call it a scar.  Whatever you may call it, it will be permanently etched into the fiber of your being.  For me, and for many of you as well, 2017 is going to be one of those years.  Denying it doesn't change that fact.  Acceptance of what is helps you to move to the next step, which involves finding some way to have peace about the situation.  Now, finding peace doesn't mean that you still won't feel the pain, it just means that you find a way to keep moving through the pain-- that you don't let the feeling of Soul Soreness overtake you to the point where you just stop everything... stop moving forward, stop living life, stop enjoying life.

The question then becomes, how do you find peace in the middle of Soul Soreness?  How do you find the balance?  How do you balance the tension that occurs naturally between being Soul Sore and yet at peace? It's a good question, and there are no easy answers. This is what I have been doing personally to help me deal with this Soul Soreness I am experiencing.

Prayer.  When I am feeling overwhelmed-- instead of immediately praying for help -- I have shifted into saying a simple prayer of "Thank you God."  Sometimes I thank Him for specific things, but often, in that first moment of feeling overwhelmed and sore, the only prayer I get out of my mouth is "Thank you God."  And I repeat it as long as it takes, as often as it takes, for me to begin to feel some relief from the throbbing soreness.

 I am honest with a few close friends about where I am at and how I am feeling, and ask them to pray for me.  And I pray for them.  Shared burdens help lighten the load.  Isolation only adds to the feeling of Soul Soreness.  Sharing the load with someone else is like adding a balm that soothes away some of the pain.  I am trying to be careful to not overshare or over burden, but I have fantastic friends who step up beside me anytime I ask (and often when I don't ask but they see that I need it).

I found inspiration from the following scripture,

" I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will meditate on all your works and consider all you mighty deeds." Psalm 76:11 &12

I am being deliberate in seeking and finding the good stuff.  I am purposefully re-posting photos on my Facebook and Instagram account of all the amazing things I have seen in this world, all of the beauty that surrounds us all, all the good memories with family and friends.  I am reminding myself daily of how blessed I am.  I make time daily to surround myself with something enjoyable, something I find beautiful.  I am meditating on the good and beautiful all around me.  I start my day, in my office surrounded by my favorite photos and memories, reading about God's goodness in the Bible.  The rest of my day may suck, but I try to always begin the day with goodness and joy.  This practice provides good fuel for my soul for the rest of the day.

And that's it, really.  It's a balancing act and some days I am better at it than others.  So, although I am Soul Sore, I am also at peace.

I don't know if this helps anyone else out there.  I only know that it has helped and continues to help me.  This blog is as much for me as it is for anyone else.  It helps me verbalized and think about all that is going on in  life.  I hope you find a measure of peace today in this soul weary, soul sore world.  To be fair, I need to state that I am not living in a constant state of sad, not by a long shot.  I feel more joy than sorrow on most days.  But sorrow needs to be acknowledged as well.  I'll leave you with a few photos and verses today that provide me with a sense of God's goodness and peace.  Have a good week!

Maine

"The Lord gives strength to his people;  the Lord blesses his people with peace."  Psalm 29:11

Munich, Germany

"I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."  

Psalm 27:13

Outer Banks

"Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure, the boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places:  surely I have a delightful inheritance. "  Psalm 16:5-6

Germany

"But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."  Psalm 13:5

Venice, Italy

"Taste and see that the Lord is good."  Psalm 34:8

Florence, Italy

"To the faithful you show yourself faithful."  Psalm 18:25

Luca, Italy

"True Wisdom and real power belong to God;  from him we learn how to live and also what to live for." Job 12:13

Notre Dame, Paris

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

Kalahari, South Africa

"The heavens declare the glory of God;  the skies proclaim the works of his hands."  Psalm 19:1

Saint Chapelle, Paris

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."  

Isaiah 26:3

West Virginia, my neighborhood

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

The Battle...Fight Like a Giraffe

The Giraffe.  I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like Giraffe's.  They conjure up all types of images and feelings in people.  Usually, one thinks of them as the awkwardly charming gentle giant of Africa.

We were lucky enough to see some Giraffe while in Africa.  And I can tell you that they are indeed amazing!  They can be amazingly quiet, making almost no noise while walking calmly from tree to tree.

 And for such a large animal (males can grow up to 18 feet tall and weigh up to 3,000 pounds), they can blend into the trees and forest remarkably well.

But, as we discovered one day, you shouldn't be fooled by the perception that these animals are gentle giants who wouldn't harm a fly.  Listen, they live  out in the wild and they are on the food chain.  They are often hunted by lions.  And the lions are not hunting just the young calves, they will take down a full grown Bull Giraffe.

Looking at a lion and then looking at the Giraffe, you might assume that it wouldn't be a fair fight, that the Giraffe would end up on the dinner plate more often than not.  But the Giraffe have a few things up their sleeves.  For starters, those long legs can pack quite a punch.  If they land a kick on a lion, it's going to smart.  They have been known to break a lion's jaw with one swift, well timed kick. And they are no slouch in the speed department either, they can run up to 34 miles an hour-- pretty fast for such a big animal.  So, just knowing those facts alone should garner the Giraffe some healthy respect.

However, it is the way that the Bulls battle for dominance that got my attention, and respect. One day, while out and about, we came across a small herd of Bulls doing this...

It's called necking, and it's a battle for dominance.  The males compete with each other for dominance by steadying their legs and swinging their necks at each other to deliver sledgehammer like blows to their opponent.  A full grown Bull's neck can weigh up to 500 pounds.  You might also notice that they have two short but strong horns on top of their heads called ossicones.  They will use these to head butt the soft underbelly of their opponent to inflict damage.  And remember those kicks I mention earlier, they are not above using those legs against each other as well.  You can hear the sounds from them "necking" each other up to a half mile away.    The goal is to either tip the opponent over, injure him so severely that he gives up, or to simply intimidate the other male to the point of surrender. They have been known to break necks, jaws, ribs, and legs in this process.

Brings a whole new meaning to the term fight club.  Before witnessing this behavior, I would have thought the saying of " you fight like a Giraffe" to be a derogatory one.  Not any more.  These Giraffe's mean business.

Now these two were young males, and more than likely they were practicing honing their fighting skills.  Their efforts were a little clumsy and not entirely serious.  But when they fully mature, that will change.

So, make the leap with me today to a somewhat practical application.  Sort of....I'll admit the leap is big today. We have all heard the term that you "choose" gratitude.  And I somewhat agree with that term, but like our somewhat soft views of the nature of a Giraffe, I think the term "choose" is too soft for what you have to do in order to live a life full of gratefulness.  1st Thessalonians 5:17-18 says this: 

"Be joyful always;  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  NIV

the Message says it this way:

"Be cheerful no matter what, pray all the time;  thank God no matter what happens.  This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live."

I think, in life that there are some days where maybe gratefulness comes a little easier, and the choice is an easy one.  You get an unexpected promotion or a raise or you receive a surprise gift. Gratitude in those instances is easy to have and readily expressed.

What about in the day to day things?  Like a pretty sunrise, or hearing a child laugh, or eating a good breakfast?  If we are honest, we are probably half in half on this one .  We don't always feel or express gratitude.  Sometimes we do, sometimes we don't.  But, if it is pointed out to us that we didn't express our gratitude, most of us would feel bad, and then comply.  It wouldn't be hard to express gratitude in those circumstances. Still fairly easy.

But, let's take this a step farther-- what about the day that someone hits and totals your car?  The car you just finished paying off?  You are physically unharmed, but your car is toast. And they don't have insurance.  And you really can't afford a new car.  Give thanks, even then?  Most of us could at least come around to a grudging level of gratitude by at least acknowledging that although the car is gone, we are unharmed.  But this gratitude thing is getting harder, right?

How about when a loved one is diagnosed with a serious disease?  Or when your child is severely injured?  Thanks even then????  

What about when a loved one is told that they are dying, and there's nothing more to be done.  You watch them suffer.  You see the pain. Or you loose a child.  Still, we should be grateful?

This gratitude thing, that upon first glance looks so awkwardly charming, suddenly becomes hard.  You see, life is a BIG opponent.  Life happens.  Hardship, illness, poverty, loss, and yes death.  It's all part of life.  And yet, we are instructed to be thankful for it all.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said this about gratitude, " Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously.  And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."

I'll be honest with you, I highly value gratitude.  It is one of the character qualities I most value and strive for (I often fail).  Often, it has been easy for me to be grateful.  I have a lot in my life to be grateful for.  Family, friends, opportunity, and  beauty are all around me.

And yet, this year my biggest battle has been to remember to be grateful in ALL things.  Don't get me wrong, I have had many times that I have been grateful for, but not always.  Not in all things.  Most people probably wouldn't blame me for the moments that I didn't feel gratitude.  There are events in life that are hard and tragic, and most of us would fail to find gratitude in those moments.  But, the scripture I quoted from Thessalonians didn't say anything about selective gratitude.  It was quite clear that thankfulness was to be present in all circumstances.

And that is where the real battleground takes place, those events that come at you like a 3,000 pound Giraffe swinging it's 500 pound neck towards your ribcage while it jabs it's short hard horns into your underbelly-- leaving you bruised, broken, and hurt. And during those times... we are to be grateful and thankful.  And it is hard.

So, how do you make headway in this battle for gratefulness in all things.  I think the key battleground maneuver is stated in the few words just before we are told to give thanks.  Pray.  Pray continuously.  Pray all the time.  Pray.  

Let's take a side step into this prayer thing.  I think sometimes we think we need to "clean up" our prayers that we present to God.  Like He doesn't already know and understand what we are really thinking.  But I don't think that is the type of prayer that will be effective in the heat of the battle.  In the deep depths of  fierce battle, you don't have the time to "clean it up."  When you are in the battle, you need urgent, immediate help.  God isn't scared by your messy and honest cries for help.  He doesn't shy away from the hardness of battle.  Pain, doubt, suffering, disbelief, loneliness, anger, despair, grief, shame, horror-- none of these things are new to God.  He knows and understands these feelings inside and out.  You won't scare God away with your messy prayers.  

I can tell you that in the midst of some of my most honest, messiest, heart wrenching prayers-- God has met me.  He has given me peace when I needed it.  Comfort when I needed it. He has listened to it all-- all the vomit of emotions that I spew out-- and He has been there.  Steady.  Never wavering.  And that is where I find my gratitude.  That is where the seeds of gratefulness are planted and begin to make deep roots in my soul.  In the midst of hardship, I find that I am thankful for a relationship with a God who is always there, listening, leaning in to hear my whispered prayers, and even my shouted ones.  And I find myself grateful.  Grateful that God is there...always. It's still a battle some days, this gratitude thing.  But, It's one well worth risking, because the reward of having a grateful heart makes my life richer, fuller, more colorful and vibrant, more meaningful, and full of joy.

I know that many of you are fighting this battle, right now., as you read this.  I know that most of us, if not deep in the battle currently, will at some point in the future face this same battle.  I want to encourage you to be fierce.  Be persistent.  Brace your legs and get ready to swing your neck. Learn how to fight like a Giraffe.  PRAY. PRAY.  PRAY.  Pray messy, heartfelt, gut-wrenching, real prayers.  God is listening.

I'll leave you with a few more Giraffe photos.  Hopefully you will at least look at this amazing animal with a new appreciation.