By Rev. Dr. Ken Lyons, BWC UMC Scouting Ministry Coordinator
Philippians 4:12-16 – Paul tells us, “But I focus on one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Jesus Christ, is calling us.”
What I’m putting forth is that this statement is great advice, but you can also learn from the past. During this past Christmas Season, I heard the old song “Count Your Blessings”. It was made popular in the Christmas movie “White Christmas” with Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, a song written by Irving Berlin. I hope you know it, of course it’s an old movie fondly remembered by this older gentleman.
Here are the lyrics: “When I’m worried, and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep, And I fall asleep counting my blessings” ……. An older song whose lyrics are timeless and priceless. I take this idea of remembering past blessings from Psalm 27; “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?.......... I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!!”
Looking back on this past year is not easy. Wars and rumors of wars, a divided nation, church attendance at an all-time low, politics, etc. Well, enough of that!!! In light of these things, we need to get back our spiritual compass found in those who show us the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. We may say, “Where is this goodness?” Well, if we don’t see it, we haven’t been looking!
When danger threatens our tranquility, our neighborhood police officers do their best and run toward danger while we’re running the other way. When smoke fills our home, and the firefighter walks through our smoke-filled house, literally “fighting” the fire with their lives.
When one in the military speaks of their duty to our nation and us when stationed in a foreign land, during COVID, when we couldn’t visit our sick family members, the medical staff stood in for us, acting as the sons, daughters, husbands, fathers and mothers for those who could not be by their sides. When a stranger smiles at us, that’s exactly what we need.
When God shows us a ministry, we answer the call. When loved ones surround us when we have experienced a great loss. When the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we need a counselor or need to witness to one who is struggling with their faith. When a child gives us a hug. Whenever we see Jesus in the face of a Christian friend.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE. COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS, SEE WHAT GOD HAS DONE!
I would be remiss in not mentioning the ongoing blessing of Scouting. Scouting provides spiritual values, the building of character, a setting where no one has to “try-out” to be accepted, where those who have special needs are warmly welcomed because Scouting is there for them just the same as any other boy and girl, where challenges are met “with the help of fellow scouts,” where the decent and spiritual values of a good life are valued and willingly displayed, and where wholesome patriotic values are shared by all and for all.
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