Random theological thoughts...

I have been reading These High, Green Hills by Jan Karon lately.  It's the third book in the Mitford series about a pastor.  I think they are funny and uplifting so I like reading them.  She stays pretty straight and center with her theology and religious thought which is fine with me.  That being said, I was surprised when she actually quoted a theologian in this book.  She has quoted scripture (it makes the dog behavior) and poetry (the pastor's girlfriend enjoys it), but this might be the first time she quoted something truly theological in nature or it was the first time it stuck out at me in the three books.  It also could be because she quoted my favorite theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  What an amazing person.  He wrote many books and spent time in a concentration camp during WWII for his part in an attempt to assassinate Hitler.  Valkyrie, which was made into a movie, was the attempt to assassinate Hitler that resulted in Bonhoeffer being put to death.  He was part of one of the earlier attempts and was imprisoned for it.  He spent the early part of WWII struggling with the ethical and theological decision of assassinating someone.  What a choice right?  What would God want you to do in that situation?  His final decision was to try and assassinate Hitler.

Anyway, back to the book, she quoted a part of Bonhoeffer's book Life Together.  I read this book before Martin was born so my thoughts are a little fuzzy, but he discusses life in a community.  My husband had to read it in his first semester of seminary and Bonhoeffer wrote it while he was teaching at a seminary.  Community is all around us, but the part she quotes is about "the small things".  She quotes in the book 

We prevent God from giving us the great spiritual gifts He has in store for us, because we do not give thanks for daily gifts.  We think we dare not be satisfied with the small measure of spiritual knowledge, experience, and love that has been given to us, and that we must constantly be looking forward eagerly for the highest good.  Then we deplore the fact that we lack the deep certainty, the strong faith, and the rich experience that God has given to others, and we consider this lament to be pious...Only he who gives thanks for the little things receives the big things.  

I love it.  Thanks for the reminder of the small things, but I think she left out one of the best line of the whole book. It comes later on in that paragraph.  I'm wondering if Jan Karon was using a different translation of Bonhoeffer's works and her last line is translated differently, but here is my favorite part...We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.  How can God entrust great things to one who will not thankfully receive from Him the little things?  

Ouch!  I'm the first one to admit I don't give thanks everyday for the small things.  Like my son taking a nap everyday or the fact that I have internet access at my house.  The bigger things I pray for all the time.  It is Pentecost today which always brings up a wonderful range of emotions for me.  The work of the Holy Spirit, as a pastor's family, is so much of the time at the front of our thoughts that it's nice to share the work of the Holy Spirit with the congregation.  I give thanks that we have a call that fits us and that we were called to this place even though it wasn't my first choice.  I can give thanks for those big things, but it's the little things that i need to work on.  Guess what, the Holy Spirit is at work everywhere!  Hey, my washing machine is running and my dryer dries clothes.  It could be different right?  

Anyway, thinking about Life Together made me think of the community around me.  My bible study "community" is amazing.  They teach me so much about living together and being good friends and sisters in Christ.  For example, almost everyone from my bible study will be helping at one of the kids' graduation today.  Why?  Because they have been friends for years and this is what they do.  I feel privileged to be included in the group.  They talked about the graduation party one night at bible study.  They were telling funny stories about when all the other kids graduated and they had to have one of the husband's get out the refrigerator truck he uses for his trucking business because they had too much food.  These were the stories of their life together and their life as a community.  They knew just what to do.  We'll bring this, I'll be here at this time, I'll come early, I'll stay late!  What an example of community, a faithful community!

I also am giving thanks for the big things of faithful friends.  A lot of pastors and many seminarians will say "Oh I will never have good friends".  Life as a pastor is different.  I just couldn't subscribe to that attitude or line of thought.  I know there is a separation and some boundaries that pastors shouldn't cross, but I don't think they can keep me from having good friends.  We had our good friends over last night and I had a wonderful time.  I don't know what I would do without them.  I have other friends in the area too, but there is something about just sitting around playing Wii and talking that you can't do with everyone!  Thank goodness for community!