Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Recently I made a hospital call at Advocate Bromenn Mennonite Regional Medical Center (try to get that on a business card). Anyway, I pulled into the parking garage and made my way up. I passed the blue level and the red level and eventually rested my vehicle on the yellow level – level 4 I believe.
As my 2011 Camry made each turn with careful precision I looked at all the vehicles that had already made their way there on that Tuesday afternoon. That parking garage was filled with millions upon millions of dollars worth of transportation worthy cars, trucks, SUV’s, motorcycles, and electric cars. As I made my way down each row and around every corner another thought came to my mind: almost every vehicle in there was less than 10 years old. Aren’t we the most blessed people in the world? This comes from someone who is in a family with a car over 10 years old – a 2005 Camry driven mostly by the offspring. But that mode of transportation has been a blessing as well.
The older I get the more grateful I become. The Lord has allowed me to see so much. I see people struggling to get up and down stairs. I thank Him each time I take the stairs at the hospitals or in office buildings or when I run the stairs for exercise at church. I appreciate the hand of the Lord in my health and my family and in our congregation. In a world of bad language and bad behavior and people whining about every little notion that doesn’t go their way, I thank God for the kindness, the uplifting word, the helping hand. I don’t want to be cynical. Please Lord help me in my gratefulness.
This all flows from our Resurrected Savior. His love and care and mercy and kindness and selflessness. He is the Vine we are the branches. May He continue to lead us to not take things for granted. May we recognize the blessings. May the parking spot you want be available – then thank Him for it!
In Christ,
Pastor