How is your attitude?

(Dillow;2007) opens her chapter with a meeting with Meredith. As I
read Dillow's interpretation of Meredith I can't help but think about
my similarities to her.


"Meredith's posture and facial expression plainly revealed that she
lived her own private reinterpretation of Philippians 4:8: "Finally,
Meredith, whatever is untrue, whatever is not noble, whatever is not
right, whatever is impure, whatever is unlovely, whatever is not
admirable - if there is anything that is not excellent or worthy of
praise — think about such things." Meredith's life was a living
translation of her negative thinking." (p. 11)

You can tell a lot from facial expression and posture. Christians have
a particularly difficult challenge if we are to be salt and light.
Consider Dillow's summary of Meredith.

"Meredith was the most negative person I'd ever met — she even looked
negative! (p. 11)

I don't believe the author is saying that we should care about what
others think, but how we appear on the outside reflects what is
inside. Christians full of negativity and bitterness taint the
portrait of Christianity.

One does need to pause and come back to Meredith. Why is she so
negative? What is the cause of her unhappiness?


"I asked Meredith why she was so unhappy when God had given her so
many good things. Without hesitation she spouted off her complaints:
First, God hadn't given her a house. She wanted her own home. She
deserved it. And her husband yes, he loved her, but she just hadn't
realized his many faults. Yes. her children were adorable, but they
were also negative and complaining (I didn't have to guess why!)." (p.
11)

First, Meredith focuses on what she does not have. Secondly, what she
does have she finds faults with. Dillow does add an interesting
comment about her children. Perhaps Meredith does not realize that
her negativity impacts the negativity and attitude of her own
children. It is possible her attitude also impacts her husband.

I need to pause and think about my own sphere of influence. Who do I
come in contact with. When one really thinks about this question,
believers globally reach a wide sphere of influence. We have the
potential to touch many lives. Think even for a minute within our
fellowship or small group. We all work in different places and live
in different neighborhoods. How many people do we individually see
and talk to daily. We must ask ourselves what messages do we
communicate in our expression, in our attitude, in our actions and
does it demonstrate the message of the Gospel.

Back to Meredith again. What we saw was her negative perspective on
what she does not have and her complaints about what she does have.
What does Dillow see:

"Ironically, many women would have traded lives with Meredith in an
instant. Her life was far from tragic. She was blessed with good
health, a petite figure that stayed that way without effort, a husband
who loved her. two adorable children, and even new furniture her
husband had recently purchased to make her happy." (p. 11)

She has good health. She has a husband who demonstrates his
affection. She has two adorable children. She has new furniture. She
has many other things that are not stated. She has many of the things
many do not have. I think of the couple who wants to have children
but are not able to do so biologically. I think about the single
adult who wants to find love but each attempt results in heartache.
Meredith has a lot and if we take a moment to think about it, we do as
well.

"Meredith was like a horse with blinders on, only seeing the dirt}
road straight ahead. She never raised her gaze upward to God or
counted her blessings. She had a blurred perspective, an unholy habit
of discontent." (p. 11)

The question is: what do we see? Who do we see? Do we complain about
the things we have or don't have? Have we counted our blessings
today? Do we see God as the author and giver of those blessings?

What I am thankful for today:
1. The Word of God
2. Truth
3. books like this one
4. the ability to read and respond
5. something to type on
6. the church
7. family
8. the ability to go to grad school
9. my morning milk tea from Sac
10. breakfast cereal
11. the ability to walk to class
12. a bed to sleep in
13. a roof over my head
14. clothes to wear
15. a chair to sit in
16. relatively clean air
17. living in a democratic country
18. The Gospel
19. spiritual discernment
20. Jesus

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father
of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
(James 1:17)

Father You have given us so much. Your grace is ever-present and
abundant. You have given us Your best when You gave us Your Son and
the way of forgiveness and reconciliation. You have given us more
with the relationships and other material and immaterial blessings.
Would we be more cognizant of who You are and what You have done.
Would we go through this day with an attitude of thanksgiving and
joyfulness impacting those around us with the power and message of the
Gospel. My heart does turn to Japan and the small but still present
church there. In a situation of despair and a place of darkness,
would hope flood the peoples of Japan. Would it not merely be hope
that is temporal like food and shelter though those things are
critical, but would it also be Your eternal hope. I can't imagine the
devastation that has hit Japan, and I don't fully understand why
tragedy hit so hard in Japan. I trust that You do and pray that from
it, a nation will rebuild, but more importantly a people be restored
and reconciled I pray in Jesus name.