God’s Megaphone

God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains:  It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.      

-C.S.Lewis

 A friend asked me how I think of what to write and I told her I write about what I’m thinking about.  I write about what people are talking to me about. And lately, people have been talking about uncertainty.  Uncertainty in the stock markets, our government, business, the economy, the housing market, everything.

I’ve decided to make a conscious decision to look on the bright side.  Not to bury my head in the sand but to count my blessings. 

My friend told me she read an article that said realists are more depressed than idealists.  Duh, I could have told you that. 

 I feel like some people are born optimistic.  That is just their demeanor.  But for most of us, I think it’s a choice.  It’s a choice to look at the glass as half full, rather than half empty.  It is a choice to see the silver lining.  Yes, there is difficulty and uncertainty.  Yes, we need to work hard, read the facts, pay attention, THINK, work, vote, help, serve, and then we need to pray.  We need to do what we can and then move on.  We are wise when we realize there are some things beyond our control. 

 I don’t think everything will turn out like I planned or that I’ll still get paid if I don’t show up for work or that people will still love me if I’m mean and nasty.  I know there is real work to be done in marriage, in work, with children, for God, with friends, for the less fortunate.  I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.  But we should remember to also count our blessings and not always focus on what’s wrong but try to remember what’s right.  

I think God does use our pain to wake us up.  He doesn’t want us sleepwalking through life.  There is a lot to do and a lot to change if we are going to bring about God’s kingdom on earth.  But we have to be awake to do it.  I believe the first step is to awaken to the abundance all around us.  To thank first and then ask for help.  To make a conscious, fully awake decision to be alive. 

I heard a speaker once talk about a Jewish custom in which they pray together on their Holy Days.  I don’t know exactly how it goes (I would love for someone to write in and explain how it goes exactly ) but this is how I understood what she was describing.  It’s a gratitude prayer to God and it starts with

Thank you God…

I’m sure you get the picture.  I came home that night and said that prayer and I fell asleep saying it.  I fell asleep because it was so long.  Yes, I am blessed.  I could go on and on with the abundance that is mine.  And you could too.  Try it.  I have not doubt it will get you looking on the bright side. (If you weren’t already)