My Quilt of Impressions
9/24/2009 11:34:58 PM
Good Morning. Sometimes in my constantly-thinking mind, I am aware that I have a sensation of someone placing a quilt around my shoulders--made up of things people have told me, things I've observed, and those thoughts that I am currently talking to God about--take this past weekend for example. With my daughter, Amy, I flew up to Lake Tahoe for a family reunion.


Good Morning.


Sometimes in my constantly-thinking mind, I am aware that I have a sensation of someone placing a quilt around my shoulders--made up of things people have told me, things I've observed, and those thoughts that I am currently talking to God about--take this past weekend for example. With my daughter, Amy, I flew up to Lake Tahoe for a family reunion. It was a trains, planes, and automobiles kind of day to get there, so of course, I was armed with my MacBook and Bible, and a lot of thoughts about contentment brewing in the cauldron on my shoulders. I was reunited with family members from all over the U.S., and spent the weekend (an interesting social psychology study), trying to figure out how to relate to all of these various people because they are my family. . . really trippy. In some ways, really disturbing too, as some people's lives have been more like trainwrecks.


Here are some of the squares of my quilt of impressions: one cousin who is my age, twice divorced, four children, not parenting any of them, and trying to 'find herself' in three different 'love' relationships--one guy in jail, one not yet divorced, and another. . . well, she's a mess! I grew up with this girl, and my heart just aches to see her desperate search for love, for contentment.


Then, I went to the casinos late Saturday night, where I learned to play Black Jack--really fun, until I looked around me and into the eyes of some of the hard-drinking, chain-smoking people, and don't get me started about the dealers--is there a sorrier job?


Then, there was Michael Phelps breaking all the olympic records--how great was the look of utter jubilation on his face? How cool was that? But I couldn't help but wonder how long his ride will last. . .


Sunday morning, I was sure I had walked into a time warp when I was talking to two of my cousins from Alaska--twin girls, (now 63), with long gray hair in buns on the back of their heads. . . I remembered my mom talking about their faith, so I had to ask them about it--true enough, they are affiliated with a Quaker-like religion--very Christian, very simple--and it defined them. The 'two old maids' as they call themselves were the picture of tranquility. I was smitten with them.


On one leg of my flight home, I sat next to a man and talked to him at length about his life--a great one, really--handsome man, beautiful children, good job. . . So, of course, I pulled out my laptop and Bible, told him what I was writing about, and asked him if he thought he was contented. Somehow, I just knew he would say, 'yeah, why wouldn't I be? I have a great life.' Well, he didn't; in fact, he said he wasn't sure if contentment was even possible. Hmmm. . .


Finally, because of a mishap on my part, I had to fly into LAX, and then get a ride back up to my car at the Orange County airport--enter the driver I had to take me there. I was a little nervous getting in the car with him, alone, late at night, and well, I'm just not that big of a girl--I wasn't sure I could 'take him'. . . So, my course of action then was to talk to him about his life, and did he have any faith? 'Seems he came here from Nepal about seven years ago with a pocket full of dreams, a college degree in economics, leaving his parents and the home of his birth behind. The dreams hadn't quite happened yet. . . and his faith? Well, raised in a strict Hindu home, he found Buddhism in college. . . but, "have you considered Christianity" I queried. Well, 'yes, I've read a little of the Bible. . .even went to church a few times. . .' I asked him to really consider the claims of Christianity, talked to him about contentment--our conversation was so meaningful.


'Got home to some responses about my teaching on contentment that included--Contentment - isn't that what we all really want? and I wonder if I will ever be content on this earth. Perhaps contentment will be my reward in heaven. So, those comments and all of the above observations serve to make up my current quilt of impressions.


Who cares? Well, I just couldn't forge further into James 4 without a 'wrap' on contentment, as a result. Here are my thoughts--first, we must define contentment--an attitude of satisfaction that allows our soul to be at rest and smile inside of us, despite what is going on around us (that's my definition--do you have one?) Without doubt, contentment is desirable, but I also believe it is attainable. Remember that Paul said, 'he had learned how to be content in all circumstances'? Contentment must be learned, if it is to be had. Also, I believe we were made for God--made to worship Him, serve Him, and serve those who He created. . . without that piece, I don't think it is possible to know contentment. (some elements of satisfaction maybe, but not true contentment that lies somewhere deep behind our stomachs and governs our attitude)


I pray that you will seek after the God of contentment, and learn what it means to be contented, my dear friends.

Christine


Tomorrow--back into James 4