You Are Blessed...seriously?...seriously!

having brunch at one of my favorite places on the hill... Rose Bud on Pike

just left church service which is just down a couple blocks and heard a great sermon on the 'beattitudes" Matt 5. The interesting part of the sermon was the pastor read the passage from "The Message" translation and i came to tears during the entire reading.

A little context...

This past week was very intense and stressful for me at work. Not stressed in a bad way, but i felt challenged to learn more about the working culture of my department and those i work with, and everyday felt more and more like the 'new guy' at the table as we discussed various approaches to our work. No matter how many techniques we discuss about approaching our work with students, I have come to realize that my foundation for life is often very different from those i work with. i guess you can say i've felt more and more like a stranger or alien (a reference from I Peter). On the surface it appears that i am simply more focused on student development and less on purely productivity and the customer service aspect of my position/department. But no amount of time at the gym, yoga class, or consuming adult beverages could resolve this internal frustration i felt as the week came to a close.

Once the pastor read the passage at the beginning of his sermon I instantly realized the root of my pensiveness and began to silently weep out of a healthy dose of emotional relief. I was simply not recognizing the reality that no matter how challenging the circumstance i am blessed beyond belief...not because of my good works or efforts to be more student-focused, but because my motivation for being holistically excellent in my work is in response to a great and humbling reality. Read on and share your reflections if this passage resonates with you...

Matthew 5:1-16 (The Message translation)
1 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down 2 and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3 "You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. 4 "You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. 5 "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are - no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought. 6 "You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat. 7 "You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'carefull,' you find yourselves cared for. 8 "You're blessed when you get your inside world - your mind and heart - put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. 9 "You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family. 10 "You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom. 11 "Not only that - count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. 12 You can be glad when that happens - give a cheer, even! - for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
13 "Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage. 14 "Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. 15 If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. 16 Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.