My back is filled with searing pain; there is no health in my body. I am feeble and utterly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart. (Psalm 38: 7, 8)
I read a horrific photo caption this past week in theTrenton Times, Tuesday, March 3: Firefighter Describes 'Fireball' At N.J. Gas Explosion
"Investigators sift through the rubble following a gas explosion in Point Pleasant Beach on Monday. At approximately 1:40AM, the Point Pleasant Police and Fire Departments were dispatched to 307 Cooks Lane for a structure fire. Upon their arrival, a burn victim was located outside the residence alert and conscious with injuries estimated to 40-50 percent of his body. The victim, a 47 year-old-male, reported smelling the odor of natural gas when he awoke from his slumber. When he went to the bathroom and turned the light switch on, the entire house ignited in flames."
The grief of this story is prodigious. I literally cringe. A man awakens from sleeping in his home and within a matter of seconds, his life is unalterably changed. He will never be the same. The inexplicable nature of this tragedy makes me want to drop to my knees and scream
A lot of people, including me, have been doing an exorbitant amount of complaining lately. The relentless winter weather we have experienced over the past month is proving to be a major source of agitation. My own arthritic back is buckling under the snow shoveling and combined with the physical work I am doing to prepare my house for sale, including bending, twisting, wheezing, and the time-honored hammering of the thumb and slicing of the skin, my body's temple is having its foundation shaken to the core.
But I don't have burns over 50 percent of my body
(sigh)
It is pitiful how I pity myself, and how we pity ourselves. I need to get away from my belly-aching, regardless of what Mother Nature is crushing onto me. When I wake up in the morning and turn on my bathroom light, my house does not explode. I hear and see the reports of children that are abused or diseased or deformed... and the beheadings of Christians... and the homeless that have frozen to death within yards of heated shelter and I realize how ludicrously trivial my problems are; I, who have so much, and they, who have so little. I must admit that I am almost invariably driven to tears when I read about the poor children who are living lives of suffering; I "groan in anguish of heart".
So I have to constantly challenge myself to do acts of kindness, and help those I see in need around me. This is not easy for me as I am not by nature a kind and beneficent individual (judgmental is my middle name); however, as my faith teaches me, I never try to go it alone. I regularly invite the Holy Spirit to camp within me and change my very nature... and astonishingly it really does result in some simple yet effective deeds of generosity and thoughtfulness, and not just in the throwing of money but in actual feats of charity.
I would challenge you as well. Open a door; provide a ride; cook a meal; or just sit by someone's side. You can make an impact in this world by accomplishing an infinite number of small actions of love, and by so doing, incrementally fulfill a segment of the teachings of Christ.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians: 5:16-18
Dear Heavenly Father,
I know that you have prepared a mansion for me by streets of gold where there is no pain and there are no tears. My Lord, help me, help me, help me to be a kind and generous man, worthy of the final resting place in your presence forever. I ask this in Jesus' name, in who makes it all possible. Amen.
Contributed by Donald
Monday March 9, 2015
Liturgical Year B: Week 15
Liturgical Color: Purple
Sunday Gospel reading: Lent3
Third Sunday in Lent