Half Full or Half Empty?
“He floated along thinking he would like to love the world as it was, and he felt a great deal of accomplishment for the occasions when he did, since the other was so easy. Hate took no effort other than to look about. It was a weakness, he acknowledged, to be of such a mind that all around him had to lie fair for him to call it satisfactory.”[1]
In the midst of trials, challenges and disruptions that alter life as we think it should be, it is often easier to cast dispersions than it is to find joy. The letter of James encourages a different perspective.
“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.”[2]
This, however, is not a natural disposition, at least not for most. The reliance upon external circumstances for satisfaction and contentment is a product of the consumeristic culture in which we live. Happiness is frequently a result of favorable circumstances. Joy comes from a completely different source and is often realized despite the circumstances.
One of the powerful lessons to be learned in serving in missions is contentment and the real sources of joy, distinct from happiness. To experience life with Christian brothers or sisters who are largely free from the trappings of materialism can be transformational. While those of us with financial resources may be “serving” brothers and sisters in need, it is frequently we who experience the blessing of a fresh perspective and appreciation for what it means to have a genuine joyful demeanor.
As we creep back into life that resembles the one we once had let us be intentional about retaining the perspective growth that this year has provided. Remember the unending blessings of God throughout all circumstances and pray for the strength of character to find satisfaction, and even joy, when life is less than fair.
[1] Frazier, Charles. Cold Mountain. P. 85. London, 1998.
[2] James 1:2-4 NRSV
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Dan Kreiss, RPC’s new Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach, brings with him a heart for service and a diverse array of experiences in the mission field. Be sure to subscribe to the Mission Outreach Blog to read and follow along as he documents his personal journey and shares his vision for RPC’s mission outreach commitment. Along with providing meaningful resources, this blog will help jumpstart the important conversations our church community must be having about missional living.
Dan Kreiss
Rev. Dr. Dan Kreiss is the Associate Pastor for Mission Outreach at RPC. Dan is particularly passionate about encouraging the church to reflect the diversity found in its surrounding community in regard to age, gender, ethnicity, education and economic status.