You Are Blessed in Every Moment

“Blessed is the one whose fault is removed." Psalm 32

Blessed

by Sir Elton John

Listen Here

Hey you, you're a child in my head

You haven't walked yet

Your first words have yet to be said

But I swear you'll be blessed

I know you're still just a dream

Your eyes might be green

Or the bluest that I've ever seen

Anyway, you'll be blessed

And you, you'll be blessed

You'll have the best

I promise you that

I'll pick a star from the sky

Pull your name from a hat

I promise you that, promise you that

Promise you that you'll be blessed

I need you before I'm too old

To have and to hold

To walk with you and watch you grow

And know that you're blessed

And you, you'll be blessed

You'll have the best

I promise you that

I'll pick a star from the sky

Pull your name from a hat

I promise you that, promise you that...

You'll be blessed

You'll be blessed!

As the song goes, we are blessed. When we doubt, we need to know what those things are and why we are so just. A positive, upright focus reveals that through many, many of the things we have done rightly have indeed yielded us the blessings of a stable job, caring friends, family around us, a good education, housing, health care, and the many elements that make life so much more than bearable.

But when we fall into the mind of what is wrong with something or someone, our thoughts fall dark. We fail to see our own or any other blessings. Our friends are goofy, they tell dumb stories; our family argues, we don't like our co-workers and we wish our house was different-- or just somewhere else…

Unlike what some may suppose or even teach, the Faithful are ever blessed by the redemption of the Cross. The Holy Spirit has seen to that. The bible tells us, Blessed is the one whose fault is removed, for he may focus himself unto trust in the Lord.  Psalm 32
And the story of Job reinforces this. It doesn't teach that only some are blessed or that you sprinkle salt, for example, and jump three times or any other ritual to be blessed.
The bible teaches us that it is indeed the Cross, not any particular community or denomination which in the end of days, is the source of redemption and blessings for all. 

"Know this so that you may believe." John, chapter 20

Kingdom Come

"All those dumb, old Christians--when will they figure that he ain't never, never gonna come?"


This week, Holy Week to many Christians around the world, comes on the heels of the election of the new Roman Pontiff, Pope Francis. This is the week in the calendar year set aside to usher into our consciousness, the greatest event of the Christian calendar, the death and resurrection of the Christ.

For those whose belief stops at their intellect, indeed this annual event is unintelligible. How stupid is it to think year after year that some dead guy is coming? Very stupid if one does not see themself in the process. The annual event is a time for reflection, for meditation upon the self and others and the ultimates in life, like what it is to live, to grow in love, to believe what we cannot easily perceive, to friend and befriend others, to commit ourselves to our communities and the common ground they can produce.

While these are identifiable Christian values, they are not limited to those persons who identify themselves as Christian. Many, many others will take part in just those same tasks under different names, in different seasons.
What makes the Christian focus on "the dead guy" so identifiable is that the story we learn is that he came at the behest of the Father, Lord Creator, that We, as his children, participate in those very same acts of Creation, and that from this the Holy Spirit guides, influences and maintains certain truths throughout the ages so that we, each one, may grow in love.
The love that was demonstrated on the dying cross by the Christ to "Love one another--love your neighbor as yourself,' and to do so at times is: to 'give up your life for a friend."
Here is the time of year that we are reminded by example that we have a friend in Jesus, no matter what our identified faith community is. The Christ comes for all persons, not just for the Christians.
Rejoice as he rises; for his rising raises us too.