CP W6 D5 Cultivating Thanks (Col 3:12-17)

Our final lesson from the "Choosing Pilgrimage" book has us focusing on the second part of St. Paul's passage. In the words from The Message, Eugene Peterson uses the phrase "Cultivating Thanks" to describe our mission. How do we cultivate thanks?

We cultivate thanks by keeping God (the reason we're doing whatever we're doing - our pilgrimage) in front of us. Our author points out that sometimes we can get so wrapped up in serving, that we neglect our quiet time with God. When that happens, we loose the ability to tap into God's energy (a source of our strength) which we need so badly to allow us to serve well.

This has been true in my life as well. Sometimes the pressures of being a good chemist, a youth leader, and all the work that goes with those missions - reading scientific journals, international conference calls, planning lock-ins or 30 hour famines, and all the rest - sometimes they edge out my quiet time with God. I usually notice this when I find myself getting cranky (OK, crankier) and I discover I have not sat in quiet with a Bible in my hand for a few days. You can see why I really work hard to protect that 5:00 appointment with God every morning and do my best to not let anything get in the way of this time.

In that quiet time this morning, we are to finish by giving thanks for some quality of each of the people in our group... no I won't embarrass each of you by listing your qualities. But I am thankful to God for placing each of you - Mike, Brian, Liz, Stephanie, Alex, Chloe, Maggie, Krista, Brandon, Danielle S., Chimma, Preston, Danielle H., Olivia and Jon - into my life and for all the wonderful thoughts and actions every one of you bring to our group.

I hope that each of you are finding some spiritual practice (body prayer, journal writing, meditation, silence, etc.) that you can use each day to connect with God's source of grace and strength.

Thanks for coming along on the journey!