The Key Word
Vestry Meetings at Christ Church begin with a meal. The meal is usually provided by two Vestry members. Before each meal, we will share the grace. This past Tuesday, I invited Ray Lyon to offer the grace. After a sweet prayer, Ray also said this: ‘The key word is gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.’ One word - gratitude - repeated several times, for emphasis.
What am I grateful for? What is it that drives my sense of gratitude? Many things. What are you grateful for? What are the sorts of things that drive your sense of gratitude? Like me, there may be many.
The many things that we are all grateful for take into account, not only the good things that we may or may not have experienced, but it takes into account, the deeply challenging part of life as well. Gratitude humbles us into recognizing the other hand, the unseen hand that lifts us up, even when we believe we are stuck in a quagmire. Gratitude encourages us to look at the bright side of life, even when we believe that that bright side is non-existent. Gratitude helps us to recognize the challenges that are ahead of us, and in the silence of life, plead for the strength to overcome those challenges - not by our strength alone, but with the strength of the unseen hand that lifts us up. I have been lifted up by the unseen hand in more ways than I can ever count.
I’d like to share a heartbreaking story. While I was on sabbatical, I lost a cousin that I had not seen in over six years. He passed away in Dubai. This came as a big shock to his mother, siblings, and family, including me because we did not know that he had been sick. He lived in Dubai by himself without his family. Unfortunately, he was an illegal immigrant. And that, in itself, exposes one to severe hardship.
His only luck was that when he was admitted to the hospital, he had his ID card which indicated that he is Ghanaian. With no family around to make any decision regarding his care, the hospital did what they thought was best, and when he passed away, they notified the Ghanaian consulate.
Since he had no family, the consulate reached out to the passport office in Ghana. Thankfully, they were able to match his name and found six references with their phone numbers listed on his passport application form. Of the six phone numbers, four did not work. One was the phone number of a priest who said he did not know him. The other number was his older sister. She broke down uncontrollably when she heard the news of her brother’s passing.
I wonder what would’ve happened to his remains if they hadn’t gotten in touch with the sister - small blessings.
When we heard the news, my brother and I decided to travel to Dubai to arrange for my cousin's memorial and his cremation. It was challenging to see his icy face in a body bag at the morgue. But I am grateful for his life and the opportunity to say a prayer for him, within the two minutes that was given to us to see him and say a prayer.
The point here is that even within the crevices of hurt, pain, shock, disappointment, and disillusionment, we can yet find a silver lining - a line of gratitude. Something to be grateful for, and that is more than the key word.
You too may have experienced something similar or even worse. You too may have had your hopes shattered. You too may be dealing with some issue that is overwhelming and causing a lot of distress. You too may be having sleepless nights over relationships with your spouse, children, family, colleagues, and neighbors.
But it is despite all the difficult challenges that we are being invited to be thankful, to insist on the key word.
Hear yourself, how can I be grateful if my cup is empty? How can I be grateful if my cup is half-full? How can I be grateful if my cup has just a little bit in it?
We don’t have to ask how much is in our cup, but whether we have a cup! Do you have a cup? And do you agree that you have a cup?
Last week, I said something to the effect that some of us pray to God for tables instead of looking at the trees that God has given to us, and from which we can make our own tables.
We have to be grateful that we have trees. We have to be grateful that we can see trees. We have to be grateful that we have the tools with which we can make our own chairs from the trees that God has given us.
A life that is absent of gratitude cannot see the gift that it possesses.
A few days ago, we mailed out our pledge cards to each family and member of Christ Church. Some of you may have received your cards and some of you will receive yours pretty soon. You can also fill one out online.
You may wonder why you have to pledge to support Christ Church. You may wonder if you’re giving enough to support Christ Church and God’s mission within this community and beyond. You may ask yourself why you need to give.
If you are grateful for life. If you are grateful for the life of your family and loved ones. If you are grateful for blessings great and small. If you are grateful for the life transformation that happens at this church. If you are grateful for all that you are and have. If you are grateful for the unseen hand that lifts you when all else is down. If you are grateful for the good news of Jesus Christ that you hear and experience at Christ Church. If you are grateful that you can choose purposeful living. If you are grateful for the fulfilling presence of God within this sacred space, then the key word for all our reflection is this: gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
When we are filled with gratitude, we give with joy in response to the gratitude we feel in our hearts and lives. And we give, not out of any sense of obligation, but as an act of duty. A duty we owe to ourselves, to others, and the God who gives us the cup of life - after all, this same God loves a cheerful giver. And a cheerful giver is always a grateful giver.
My prayer is that we will all keep the key word in mind during this stewardship season.
Blessings,
Manny +
To pledge to Christ Church for 2025, please visit www.christchurchcolumbia.org/pledge-2025
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