Grace always demands the answer of gratitude. Grace and gratitude belong together like heaven and earth. Grace evokes gratitude like the voice an echo. Gratitude follows grace like thunder lightning.... Here, at any rate, the two belong together, so that only gratitude can correspond to grace, and this correspondence cannot fail. Its failure, ingratitude, is sin, transgression. Radically and basically all sin is simply ingratitude.
- Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics
What a word: like thunder following lightning! Arguably the most significant Christian theologian of the past century, Karl Barth’s stood against the rise of fascism in Germany through two world wars.
His quote prompts me to ask, "What follows the lightning in my life?" When good things appear out of nowhere, what follows? What about when bad things happen?
I believe that God's grace is available in the good and the bad. Am I willing to see it for what it is? I am keen on suffering, for no person should be. But, if in the suffering I am led by grace into a deeper of trust of God, then it seems that gratitude should follow even suffering. I am not fond of persecution. But, if others speaking against me causes me to pause, reflect and repent of the part of their story which is true, and repentance leads back back to the worship of God, then gratitude should follow even persecution.
It is perfectly appropriate to offer up gratitude for the good, as we gather around tables of turkey this coming week. It is divinely right to reflect on how God is at work in the not-so-good to grow us in trust and love. They will know we are Christians by our love. May the good and bad of life be turned to love and thanksgiving, by God's grace.
Grace, peace and cranberry sauce to you, Scott
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