Can you imagine?!
Getting a chin up message in the face of life-shattering disaster! It’s not even a case of commiserations and comparisons of whose tragedy is worse; just ‘chin up; focus on the bright side. What bright side you say, focus on the Truth is the response.
What a slippery challenge this is; for the truth might not broker freedom. For some of us, the truth may result in denial of freedom. For if every action generates an equal and opposite reaction, truth-telling carries its own set of possible actions. And of course, the truth which we stick to may differ.
As sinful, fallible humans, our truth may no always reflect the reality we share with the world. Our focus may waver. We can get lost in our truths and see no reason for hope. We can zero in on a glimmer of another’s truth and get sidetracked by all that is or isn’t.
But that’s not really the directive, is it. In his ‘chin u’; ‘stiff upper lip’ message Paul actually says zero in on that which is True, as in God’s own truth. God’s own truth says regardless of the crime, disaster, diagnosis, disappointment, disease or death we face. – God loves us (individually, as in personally) and God is with us. And that is even when WE are the ones who messed up!
God’s own truth is steadfast and reliable. Jesus loves me this I Know. Even when I am soiled or forsaken. Especially when I am lost and alone. If we respond to that love by loving the Author of that Truth in turn; we may find that we feel God’s presence and are able to bask in God’s presence. And in God’s presence is peace and joy.
(Rest assured, this is Good News for me also, and I gotta now apply God’s own truth to some frustrations that come my way!)
So with that let’s consider today’s Holy Nougat and begin to retrain our minds in God’s own truth:
“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”
Philippians 4:8 NRSV
Good morning
In Christ’s love and grace . . .
