Daily Devotion - Monday, September 27

Perspectives

“Wait for God;
be strong, let your heart take courage;
wait for God.”
--Words from a old song, Psalm 27: 14

A few years ago I received 3 e-mails in a 10 minute span. They caused me to think about how we look at life. Times have become increasingly difficult for many and so I'd like to share some snippets from those e-mails as we start another week.

E-mail #1: From Missionaries in Honduras
“We constantly think about keeping safe, whether from parasites in the water or from violence in the streets… We struggle with the reality of extreme poverty… We feel frustration each time we go through the hospital system and its long lines… We feel overwhelmed by the problems in the villages.”

E-mail #2: From a hospital executive about the health care infrastructure of New Orleans. “Essentially the health care infrastructure of New Orleans is gone – it no longer exists,” said Joe Cappiello from JCAHO.

E-mail #3: From an associate at my hospital who forwarded an e-mail titled, “I am thankful.” The e-mail lists a dozen reasons (with brief explanations) why the author is thankful. For example: “I am thankful for my huge heating bill… because it means I am warm.”

We are keenly aware that millions around the world are surviving in ways we find difficult to even imagine and we can be troubled by a seemingly sinking economy. Sometimes in our sheltered and safe existence we are tempted to complain. Thinking of the grieving souls, the starving souls, the homeless souls! Pray for them! Approach your day with thankfulness and gratitude for life and join with all our brothers and sisters as we wait for the Lord.

--Ben Keckler
09.27.10