Last week, I read an essay I wrote about the month I spent in Turkey back in 2013.
In the essay, I wrote about how the trip gave me a new sense of gratitude for the things God has blessed us with.
Nineteen-year-old me wove a story about a breathtaking view of the Kalamazoo River seen while replacing windows over Christmas vacation and homeowners who claimed that they intended to move if they began to take the view for granted.
With this thought fresh in her mind, nineteen-year-old me marveled over natural beauty displayed across the country of Turkey—the beauty of God’s creation,
but also the creative ability God granted to His people and how “the immense detail in the marble carvings, murals and frescos, the archeological and architectural feats, and the ability to learn from and to preserve history were all reminders to me of God’s sovereignty.”
She pondered: “If God has given this immense ability to create to us—His creation—how much more creative and powerful is He? He is our creator and has blessed us with only a portion of His creative ability, not to mention the ability to observe and enjoy these things.”
Nineteen-year-old me recognized that she did not want to take her surroundings for granted, but wanted to look at her own surroundings with the same sense of wonder and amazement. She said boldly stated, “I don’t want to live my life unaware of all the beauty, majesty, and creative power God displays around me. I need to look for Him in the little details of life because He has a hand in everything. I need to live a life of gratitude.”
But living a life of gratitude doesn’t always come naturally, and I need constant reminders.
This past February, when I found myself dwelling on a lot of negative thoughts, I was reminded though a Young Life club talk by my friend Bryan that we need to look past the fog of this world to see the beauty that surrounds us.
In his story, he told us of how, when he was on a plane landing in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, they were unable to see anything until they were a few feet from the ground because of a dense fog, but later he realized the view that he had missed out on because of the fog.
While sin has corrupted this earth and can often cloud our view, there is still so much beauty to be seen.
So, I tasked myself with finding the beauty that I am surrounded with rather than dwelling on the negative thoughts I find myself dwelling on all too often.
This past spring, I was also challenged to make a list of 1000 Things that I am thankful for. And, while I didn’t even make a dent in that list, here are ten of the many things I that I have found beautiful and bring me joy:
1. The way my students demonstrate God’s love and kindness to me.
2. Loving parents who have supported me and encouraged me, even when I am at my worst and allowed me to live with them for the past year and a half so that I could pay off my student loans.
3. My siblings and our fountain pop and candy aisle runs, spontaneous dance parties, and Harry Potter marathons. Watching them on the soccer field or performing on stage.
4. Grandparents who sacrificed to put their kids through Christian schools. For reassurance of their unwavering faith in the Lord and the legacy of faith that they passed on to the next generation. For extended family and time spent together.
5. Friends that ask me how I am actually doing and take the time to listen and the technology that gives me the opportunity to communicate with them across the country and the world or even just 45 minutes away in a matter of seconds.
6. Sunsets and sunrises, walks through the woods or by the beach, or nights looking at the stars which always remind me of God’s beauty and power; they help calm me down and put life back into focus.
7. Pulling into the driveway and seeing my dog, who is always excited to see me.
8. The ability to run, regardless of how slow I am — to do something my dad loves and to use it as a means to meet new people through Running Club.
9. The unexpected blessing of not having my own classroom last year (while at times very inconvenient and frustrating) because it gave me the opportunity to connect with other staff members in a way I might not have done if I had been stuck in the same room all day.
10. Simple pleasures like taking a few free moments to dive into a good book and disconnect from the craziness of life, the smell of fresh coffee, and soft blankets.
So, as I go forward, I need to remind myself of the things on this list and the countless other things that I can be thankful for when I start feeling down about myself and about life. Even when things look bleak, there are beautiful things surrounding us that we just need to get through the fog to see.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” –Philippians 4:6-7
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” –1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
