Gratitude and Hope

Psalm 146:5-10 (NRSV)

Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets the prisoners free;
the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
the LORD loves the righteous.
The LORD watches over the strangers;
he upholds the orphan and the widow,
but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
The LORD will reign forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the LORD! 

I've been thinking a lot about gratitude lately.  Partially because I've been following David Lose's "In the Meantime" blog where he's been discussing it quite a bit lately, but also because it is the end of the year.  As our year winds down, we tend to look back reflectively on the past year, grateful for the good things, and relieved to have the bad things be over.

I admit there are days when sometimes it's harder to see the good things.  Reading the news or watching TV news channels can be downright depressing.

Yet every time I read this Psalm I get a smile on my face.  And I feel grateful.  

Grateful that despite our efforts, we aren't in control.  Grateful that creation is created by God as "good." Grateful that those who seem to be forgotten in the world - according to the news on TV - the poor, the suffering, the oppressed - God is with.  God has not and will not forget.  Even when we do.

It's the kind of gratitude that makes me want to stand up and live: live fully and in partnership with the rest of God's creation.  

This Psalm gives me hope.  Hope for the New Year and beyond.  

St. Paul wrote:  "hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Hope does not disappoint us.  It fills our hearts with gratitude and promise.  It keeps us going despite evidence that things are bleak.  

I reminds us that we are not in control and that God has designed a wonderful order to this world and invites us to be part of it.  Praise the Lord indeed!

***

Good and gracious God, we thank you for this world and all of its surprises and joys.  We thank you for the love you bear us and ask you to help us be always reminded of the special love you bear for the broken and broken hearted.  Strengthen us with your hope that we can spread that hope to those who need it.  Amen