There was a substantial pause on the other end of the phone line. It took the woman at the local travel department a moment to recover from the shock. She’d asked for it, seconds earlier with the question, “How many countries do you plan on visiting?”.
I think there was still a bit of confusion when I went in to get a couple vaccines this past week. After clarifying that this trip was a mission trip(albeit unique), Joy, the nurse, asked me something that is still bouncing around in my head.
“What does a person do to earn a trip like that?”
I’ve had one major goal set aside for Christmas break; one which I have continually excused, (at times) avoided, and even fought to enjoy–writing ‘Thank You’ notes. The pint sized cards and I share a long and freckled past, usually involving some degree of dread possibly mixed with writer’s cramp. Truth was I was struggling to give thanks. What’s the deal? When did thanksgiving become such a burden? Is it the hand written note, the time, the quantity, or cramming everything onto an undersized card? I don’t think these are the culprits placing thanksgiving under fire. It’s time we shed some light on this topic, because thankfulness is worshipful, an integral part of living the forgiven life.
I didn’t earn this trip and that’s what I told Joy. If God only used perfect people, I’d be out of a job–pronto. The salvation, blessings, and grace He has heaped on me, especially through people supporting this trip, is MIRACULOUS. I did NOTHING to earn it, and NOTHING I could ever do would earn it. Grace doesn’t work that way.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” -Ephesians 2:8-10
Donald Miller in his book, Blue Like Jazz, explains that the Lord’s grace is so lavishing that it becomes charity:
“In exchange for our humility and willingness to accept the charity of God, we are given a kingdom. And a beggar’s kingdom is better than a proud man’s delusion.”
To not be grateful would be to not fully receive any of these gifts. Selfishness has a weird and dangerous way of distorting the truth. It starts acting like I deserve this trip, and I deserve the best equipment, and why should I bother saying “thank you” when this trip is for and about me?
Poison.
These are the thoughts that seek to steal, kill and destroy the rightful glory of the Lord. If you’re feeling or have felt the weight of these lies, let me tell you there is Joy(not the nurse) in giving thanks, in (remembering and) rejoicing in what the Lord has done. As I began writing the notes, the burden of pride was replaced with the blessings of generosity and humility which accompanied each gift. The selflessness of each of these people serves as a lesson of selfless humility for me. This trip, this World Race, even the very life that I lead is not for me–the part is not greater than the whole. We have the honor of being apart of the kingdom of the one true King, something more than we could ever earn. Let us give thanks, even if it means a little writer’s cramp.
