"Blessings" Luke 24:46-53 5/23/04
This past week I had the opportunity to make a visit to a
patient in Children's Hospital. It was one of those experiences
that touches you in the moment with the sheer presence of God
among us. As I walked to the room I saw children of all different
ages and races. I was told that this was the cardiac unit and all of
the children on that floor had heart problems that required
surgery and many of these young children were waiting for heart
transplants. I saw young infants being held by their parents. I
observed nurses attending to the needs of the children as they
regulated this machine, watched that heart monitor, and as they
laid a healing hand on the warm forehead. I heard the cries of
fear and pain that signaled the need for loving arms. As I was
driving back to the office I couldn't help reflect
on the many blessings I have experience in my own and how so
often I can take for granted the good things that are happening
each and every day. And even when we're facing times of
trouble or struggling with the daily challenges of life God's
blessings still abound. In that hospital unit with all the suffering
those little children and their families were experiencing there
were blessings to be seen. I saw the strength and dedication of a nurse
who had worked with children who are ill for over 30 years. I watched as a
young teenage volunteer spent time playing with a child and helped him to
forget his physical problems for a few moments, i heard the laughter of a
child as she talked about going to a water park when she got out of the
hospital. God's blessings are to be found on the days when the sun is
shinning brightly and on those days when we can't see the rainbow in the
sky.
Blessings. It says in our scripture reading for tonight that as Jesus
was getting ready to ascend to heaven he lifted his arms and blessed the
gathered disciples. And in the next verse we read that the disciples
immediately returned to Jerusalem with great joy and they were continually
in the temple blessing God. Blessings. Who are the people who have
blessed your life? I share a story with you from The World According to
Mister Rogers written by Fred Rogers. (page 150)
---
A few years ago I was asked to be part of a White House meeting about
children and television. Many broadcasters from all over the country were there.
During my speech, I asked the audience to spend one minute thinking of someone
who'd made a difference in the person they'd become. As I was leaving that
enormous room, I heard something from one of the military guards who was all
dressed up in white and gold, looking like a statue. I heard him whisper,
"Thanks, Mister Rogers."
So I went over to him and noticed his eyes were moist, and he said, "Well, sir,
as I listened to you today, I started to remember my grandfather's brother. I
haven't thought about him in years. I was only seven when he died, but just
before that, he gave me his favorite fishing rod. I've just been thinking, maybe
that's why I like fishing so much and why I like to show the kids in my
neighborhood all about it."
WelI, as far as I'm concerned, the major reason for my going to Washington that
day was that military guard and nourishing the memory of his great-uncle. What
marvelous mysteries we're privileged to be part of! Why would that young man be
assigned to guard that particular room on that particular day? Slender threads
like that weave this complex fabric of our life together.
---
Who are the people who have come into your life whether for a moment or
a life time. Those
people that have shone up at just the right time blessing your life with just
what you needed at that moment. Bring them to remembrance. They were sent
by God to bless your life. Thank them and
thank God that they came when you needed them the most. They came to
offer love and support. They came to help you to become who you are
today. They came to challenge you when you needed to grow. Indeed they
are the slender threads that weave the fabric of our life together.
Blessings. Whose life have you blessed on your journey? We are
blessed so that we might be a blessing to others. Just as the early disciples
ran back to the temple and where continually blessings God - the world is
our temple and how we touch the lives of others indeed blesses God.
What we have been given, who we are in the core of our being
of our beings, is meant to be shared with others. If you know of someone
who is lonely you bless their life with your presence. If you
have enough food on the table, you can bless the life of someone else
by inviting them to dinner. When you know you are truly a
beloved child of God, you can bless others who feel unloved. As you go
about your day look for opportunities to bless the lives of others. To share a
smile, to laugh with another person, to hold someone in
your arms, to offer forgiveness when you have been wronged, to go
the extra mile with that difficult person, to sit at the bedside of someone
who is ill, to offer words of encouragement to the friend who is without
hope, to share words of comfort in the midst of a lost, all
these are ways that we can bless others into wholeness.
Blessings. As the old hymn says "Count your blessings name them
one by one see what good things God has done." I would suggest that if
we began each day by taking 5 minutes to count are blessings our whole
attitude would change. We would recognize what we do have - instead of
dwelling on what we don't have. We would indeed see the glass as half full
instead of half empty. God has entrusted each of us with everything that we
need for our journey. Begin and end your day counting all the ways that
God has blessed you. Recognize the ways that you have blessed the lives
of others. If we offer a blessing to each person we meet imagine how the
world can be changed. By blessing the people around us we bless God.
We acknowledge that a part of the divine lives in every human being.
Blessings. As you go into a new week be prepared, be open to the
ways God will bless you in the familiar and the unfamiliar. In the times of
joy, and in moments of sadness. You will be blessed by
those who love you and you may even be blessed by a stranger who
enters your life for only a moment. When you look into the eyes of another
ask God to bless them with everything they need on their journey. When
you listen to other people be attentive to the blessing they may need
through your presence. Take the time throughout your day to be aware of
God's blessings and with each step you take seek to bless the world
around. Blessings.
