Contentment
In my previous post, I defined our life as “the experiences that are produced by our contact and interaction with the surrounding world.” In John 10:10, Jesus says that he came to give abundant life. The word translated abundant literally means more than expected or beyond the norm. So if we go back to our definition, then that means that Jesus wants our experiences, our contact, and our interaction with our surrounding world to be abundant and full . . . to be more than expected and beyond the norm. I admit that is not always a reality in my life. Actually, if I were completely honest, I would have to say that the abundance and fullness of life often comes from the circumstances that I am experiencing . . . a great vacation, a beautiful day on the golf course, a delicious meal, etc. As I said before, this would be living life from the outside in. But I think the abundant life that Jesus is talking about comes as a result of an aggressive and active faith in HIM. So that life becomes abundant and full no matter what our circumstances might be. Is that even possible and realistic? Is that what Paul was talking about in Philippians 4 when he says that he is able to be content no matter what the circumstance? Maybe the abundant and full life . . . life lived from the inside out . . . has everything to do with being content. Thoughts?? We will try to dig in even more next time . . .
My mother recently recommended a book to me (which I always find myself apprehensive about those inspirational “self help” books) but I thought I’d give it a shot. The book is called “Calm My Anxious Heart,” and I’m not too far along, but there is a part that talks about a missionary woman who worked with Pigmies in the African bush. Her daughter found a diary entry, which had this woman’s prescription for being content no matter what the circumstances.
• Never allow yourself to complain about anything- not even the
weather.
• Never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace
else.
• Never compare your lot with another’s.
• Never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise.
• Never dwell on tomorrow- remember that [tomorrow] is God’s, not
ours.
It seems so simple, and yet so impossible at the same time.