Recently, I read through the Beatitudes, Jesus' prosperity message (Luke 6:20-26). The one word that is repeated is the word, blessed. I don't know how you've allowed for the word blessed to be defined in your understanding. Maybe to you to be blessed means to be in a good situation...better than others. As I read through the six verses that captured Jesus' teaching on the matter, I couldn't help but think that this was not Jesus' intended emphasis. Blessed doesn't mean separation. The emphasis that jumps out to me is that to be blessed means to embrace.
To those who know me, it's no secret that I'm not a first-reaction optimist. I see the glass half empty. I'm not so sure that's actually a good thing or a bad thing. Idealist, realist, rationalist...whatever you want to label it, seeing things through pessimistically tinted lenses is just how I see things, initially, at least. I'm sure my lean towards pessimism is blend of nature and nurture. I'm convinced that my pessimism is a crutch that slows my hobbling pace. But as I hobble along, I see path in more of a panoramic way. Weird, but somehow true.
You see, I have always resigned my pessimistic perspective to something that only erodes my faith. Instead, I have come to recognize that it tests my faith and helps to reveal God's perspective in the situation. Don't misunderstand me here. I'm not glorifying the pessimism. Absent of God's grace and redemptive work continually active in my life, I'd be hollow, broken and fragmented. God's grace coats the wiring within me and causes everything to work as it should.
All too often, smiling faces hide broken hearts.
We hide behind spiritual mantras that are plastic optimism, i.e., 'too blessed to be stressed'. What Jesus calls blessed is not pretty or attractive. You will be stressed, you will be blessed.
For the rest of the week, I'm going to share my take on Jesus' words. I'd be happy to hear your reflections and feedback.
one love. one life.
Guy
To those who know me, it's no secret that I'm not a first-reaction optimist. I see the glass half empty. I'm not so sure that's actually a good thing or a bad thing. Idealist, realist, rationalist...whatever you want to label it, seeing things through pessimistically tinted lenses is just how I see things, initially, at least. I'm sure my lean towards pessimism is blend of nature and nurture. I'm convinced that my pessimism is a crutch that slows my hobbling pace. But as I hobble along, I see path in more of a panoramic way. Weird, but somehow true.
You see, I have always resigned my pessimistic perspective to something that only erodes my faith. Instead, I have come to recognize that it tests my faith and helps to reveal God's perspective in the situation. Don't misunderstand me here. I'm not glorifying the pessimism. Absent of God's grace and redemptive work continually active in my life, I'd be hollow, broken and fragmented. God's grace coats the wiring within me and causes everything to work as it should.
All too often, smiling faces hide broken hearts.
We hide behind spiritual mantras that are plastic optimism, i.e., 'too blessed to be stressed'. What Jesus calls blessed is not pretty or attractive. You will be stressed, you will be blessed.
For the rest of the week, I'm going to share my take on Jesus' words. I'd be happy to hear your reflections and feedback.
one love. one life.
Guy
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