“It’s the praising life that honors me. As soon as you set your foot on the Way, I’ll show you my salvation.” Psalm 50.23
Believing, really believing, that everyone can win at life one of the most difficult things to do. We fight for the promotions we deserve, we struggle and go to war for fair decisions. Life appears to teach us that nothing is ours unless we scrap, hit, and even kill to get it. Eat or be eaten, biggest one wins, and survival of the fittest are mottoes we know, respect, and believe. Nothing is free and every fiber of our being understands this fact.
God disagrees. God says he has, is, and will continue to give us a gift. We do not need to fight for it cannot earn it, and there is one for every human being. The gift itself is also unusual because it is not fair or just, our lives reflect a choice of a personal god. God owns the gift outright because he gave up everything to get it. In addition, God promises that we cannot do anything to change his mind.
We learn one thing in life and God teaches something different. God offers us the chance to try his gift, see what it is like, but we find it difficult to accept on any terms. We hear about this gift but we cannot find the one who takes God up on his offer. War, hatred, violence, bigotry, and abuse are present in all people. People wearing the god label appear the same as people without. Institutional religion and most leaders are as faithful to truth and integrity as whore is to vows of virginity. Cynicism pervades every aspect of life today.
Then we catch a glimpse of God in a life, or experience a touch of grace in ours. Then we begin to question our life lessons and wonder about the thirst in our life. Then we begin a known or unknown quest to know and taste God. A praising life is more powerful than any words.
