In today’s Gospel Story (Luke 17:11-19) Jesus heals ten lepers, and only one returns to thanks him. The majority report sees this Story as a reminder that we should always thank God when our prayers are answered or something good happens, which is true. The minority report, as usual, can go to some very different places, depending on where we are on our journey from Abba, with Abba, to Abba.
The Alleluia Verse can set a bit of a different tone as it says, “In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” This would seem to make no sense at all until we try to move in this direction, toward making thanksgiving, gratefulness, a basic part of our every day living. Whatever our daily reality, easy or hard, it is where we encounter Abba who is with us in everything. An attitude of thankfulness leads us to be open to good happening that we would miss if we were focused only on our problems and what we don’t like.
Many among us are in very difficult circumstances. Sudden and unexpected serious medical diagnoses, failed relationships, loss of jobs, death or injury of loved ones, and so forth. In these circumstances they may even feel betrayed by God, even turn away from God altogether, and this is understandable. Is it reasonable to expect them to be thankful? Reasonable, probably not. Good, authentic, difficult, life-giving, freeing — definitely. Reasonable means fitting things into our thinking so we can understand them on our terms. But suffering is far beyond anything we can understand. It is a reality of life.
It’s one thing to try to help folks in difficult circumstances. It’s quite another to deal with our own difficulties. Nothing is theoretical, just very practical. Helping someone else prepare for their death is a worthwhile act of love and charity. Dealing with one’s own death is vastly, different. Our awareness of the impending unknown is really something. What these both have in common is Abba, who is loving us beyond words in the midst of all this. There really are no words to adequately describe our experience of this.
This idea of being grateful in terribly unpleasant settings like these seems to make no sense at all until we try to move in this direction, toward making thanksgiving, gratefulness, a basic part of our every day living. Whatever our daily reality, easy or hard, it is where we encounter Abba who is with us in everything. An attitude of thankfulness leads us to be open to good happening that we would miss if we were focused on our hurts and on what we don’t like. From my own experience this whole thing can become for us an exciting adventure. We meet people, have unexpected experiences, go on new and different journeys, none of which would happen if we were not having our difficult times.
Brother David Stendl-Rast: “the root of joy is gratefulness…it’s not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful”. We can get so wrapped up in our everyday commotions that they begin to take over our life, especially these days with all the nastiness and anger. One of the big things that happens in us when we begin to move towards making gratefulness a part of our life is that we come to realize that, no matter what is going on, we are not in any sense alone. This realization, this experience, is a profound gift that is pretty much ours for the asking as we work along with Abba happening in our lives. It is worthwhile to move in this direction now rather than wait for our difficult times. It changes our whole life, leads us to see things much differently, and offers us a sense of openness and trust, something we sorely need.
What has helped me a lot on my journey is the Welcome Prayer which is basically “By your grace I welcome everything that is coming into my life today because it is of you, and I let go of my desire for security, approval, and esteem, power and control”. It is not the words, but the attitude, the desire to be whole and safe. This has led to a deep sense of peace and freedom, even of partnership with Abba. We come to know God as Jesus taught us, Dad., Abba. Very close, very familiar, very safe. Bit by bit, our fear and anger begin to melt away. We are not alone, and this is a big thing as we come to realize it. At least it has been so for me on my journey. None of this means our difficulties will go away, our illness cured, our relationships fixed, or that we will get answers to all our questions. It does mean that we come to know them in a new way, and become aware of a closeness that is good. We are part of something, Someone, much bigger than ourselves, and it is good. We come to see the people in our life in a new way, aware of so many instances of Abba helping us through the people, events, and experiences in our life. One way if describing this could be an open heart. We start to treat people differently, perhaps with a little more kindness.
All this can seem unreal, naive, inane, etc. But as we take the chance and ask the grace to move in this direction we come bit by bit to see things differently. I remember the fear, even terror, of my first couple of heart attacks years ago. I don’t want to go back there again. In the process since those times many new doors have opened, others, thankfully, have closed. There have been are new ways of prayer, of thinking, of ministry, the unexpected out of the blue recall to the active duty Army, and lots of beginning to see things differently. Also, I have been blessed with a number of new and exciting friends. No need to try to control things so I feel safe, comfortable, and in control, which is overrated. While for many this makes no sense, when it is a matter of our experience, of our reality, this is how we live at this time on our journey of openness and trust. Just sayin . . .