Giving Thanks in a NO WHINING Zone

The view from my office window allows me to monitor every step in the County Road #137 construction project. From where I sit, I can see the heavy equipment coming and going - or standing still as they have been recently due to the rain! I’ve learned that it now takes twice as long to travel from home to church, and 20 minutes to travel from church to the grocery store. I get frustrated with the traffic, frustrated at how my daily routines and habits have been rearranged. And I must confess that through this, I’ve learned once again how spoiled I am.
It hit home this weekend while I was working on the sermon for Sunday. The Gospel reading was the story of the 10 men who were healed of their leprosy, only one of whom returned to praise God and fall at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving. Not only was this man healed physically, he also experienced a healing of vision and received eyes of faith to see clearly the Giver of the gift he’d received.
But there was another kind of healing needed in this story, and that was the healing of hearts so that the barriers that exist between people might come down, and people see each other as God does, as children of God. The man who returned to give thanks was a Samaritan, someone whom others kept on the margins of society. Even though he was healed of his leprosy, he would always be an outsider to others, unless they were able to see him as the person of faith that he was.
In communities across this country, some of the greatest barriers exist for people who are new Americans, new immigrants, and our new neighbors. Time and again I have heard the faith stories that these new friends share, stories of praying while fleeing for life and leaving home for the last time, of praying the 23rd Psalm while walking across an entire nation.
I was ashamed as I thought about my whining over the insignificant inconvenience I know because of the road construction. And my heart has been healed by the testimony of our new neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ, who are in the habit of praising God not just on the good days, but in all circumstances. They are missionaries in our midst, living and teaching me what it means to walk by faith.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits.” Psalm 103:1-2

Gracious God, we confess that we are so quick to complain and so slow to give thanks. Grant us eyes of faith to see the abundant gifts you shower upon us. Grant us warm hearts to welcome new neighbors and receive their testimony of faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.