Christmas 2022

 Christmas thought I shared with my family at Christmas:

Philippians 4:12-13 says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

I've always been compelled to figure out what the secret of contentment is.  Paul says he found it but never states explicitly what it is.  He tells you he has a secret but never delivers it.  I looked up the bible commentaries and see various good options.  And there may be more than one correct answer. 

One answer that I've found is something I have come to believe is hidden in plain sight.  Something we are all familiar with and have heard enough times that our minds gloss over it and discount it the moment we hear it, because we're already familiar with it.  

But first a digression into Star Wars.  Yoda has this iconic phrase: "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

I think there's a positive parallel to that which leads into one possible secret of contentment.  As a parallel to Yoda's phrase consider this: Gratitude leads to contentment, contentment leads to peace, and peace leads to the light. 

I think gratitude may be the secret to contentment.  Because there is always something to be grateful for in every situation.  That shift towards gratitude for what God has already provided is in such plain sight we often discount it.  Focusing on that rather than what we perceive we don't have has power.  It leads to contentment in whatever situation.  Like Paul said. 

So, I put this forward as something to consider.  Not pop psychology gratitude.  It's not that.  It's authentic gratitude from seeing God in your life.  It's the kind of gratitude that grows out of your soul when you recognize everything God has already done in your life.  Once enough of those "awarenesses" kick in, contentment follows naturally.  The real kind.  

To the discontent soul want and ingratitude seem to blind us from what has already been given.  We can never get enough of what doesn't satisfy.  I see that in my own experience.  We wrongly presume that more blessings or more of whatever appear to be the answer but curiously it doesn't satisfy.  But to the grateful soul, more (of whatever) doesn't matter because you are already content.