Ordinarily, this would be a very easy post to write because I am in the habit of writing down five things I’m grateful for every day. Gratitude, which is a kind of adoration, is a habit I intentionally practice to get myself to pay attention to God’s gifts in my life. What makes it hard today--the day I’m writing this--is that I learned this morning that the bear that lives at Camp Cedar Falls died from the trauma of evacuating from the fires.
This beautiful bear was a charming creature I had spent considerable time watching when I would be at the camp for retreats or acting in the capacity of camp pastor. I loved watching him peacefully munch on the kitchen scraps he ate. He had a kind face. For some reason, despite all the awful things to happen in 2020 on a global scale, this one is the first one that actually feels personal. What “bear” are you mourning? A job, an event, a relationship, a way of life? I always thought that grief, while it hurts, is a form of thanksgiving, in a weird way. For something to hurt when we lose it, we had to love it first. It had to bring joy to our lives for us to care about it when it left. Prayers of adoration--both praise for who God is and thanksgiving for what He has done--are usually associated with joyful times and places, and rightly so. It’s easy to practice adoration when we are rejoicing over seeing loved ones get married, or a stunning day, or whatever. I believe, however, that these practices are even more important and relevant when times are dark and there is loss. “There is music in the midst of desolation and a glory that shines upon our tears.” This was a common funeral reading during World War I (1914-1918), which senselessly destroyed the lives of way too many young men, not to mention the civilians who also perished from the 1918 Flu Pandemic. What I love about this line is how it shows that even in the midst of pain, there is beauty. If anything, the pain reveals the beauty. Without denying the “negative” range of emotions--grief, pain, anger, etc.--times of loss can be a time for appreciating and loving what remains. For appreciating and loving what was. God gave you the person or thing you miss. He loved you enough to give you that experience. Taking time to acknowledge that doesn’t make the pain go away, but it puts it in a more constructive context than just suffering. And what remains? Well, in the case of the bear from Camp Cedar Falls, I thank God that the people made it out all right and that the firefighters are able to use the camp as a base for fighting the blaze. I thank God for the memories that remain. Gratitude is a potent weapon against despair, because even in the darkest moments, there is something to be grateful for. Praise can be a bit harder, because it’s about God Himself. It’s not always easy to see what is praiseworthy in God when you’re in the middle of suffering. There’s a reason why Job is considered kind of amazing simply for not cursing God. Even as he rants and raves in his confusion over what’s happening, though, there are little pockets of praise here and there--”I know that my redeemer lives, and yet in my flesh shall I see God.” Praise can be a beautifully emotional experience, but it can also be an intellectual one. Sometimes, we need the intellectual to carry us through until the emotions can follow. Taking time to acknowledge intellectually that God is just, that He is good, that He has good plans for us when all is said and done can tide us over until experience catches up. Experiencing praise is beautiful, though, and not to be missed. My favorite moments of praise are when I see something God made--an animal, a plant, a sunset, whatever--and my heart leaps at the impressions it gives me of its Designer. This was the gift I received from Chester, the Camp Cedar Falls bear--watching him always made me smile at God’s handiwork. It’s important to take time to enjoy these things, to experience the pleasures God has prepared for us that direct our attention to Him so that we don’t lose out on one of His good gifts. Yes, even in troubled times, God is good and we can rely on Him. He still has good things for us. They may not be the things we expect or think we want, but they are ultimately the best things for our flourishing. By taking the time to thank and to praise Him, we will enjoy more of the good things He has in store for us.
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AuthorJillian Lutes is the youth pastor at West Covina Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church. Archives
May 2020
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