How often have you thought or said:
I don’t have enough time.
I don’t have enough money.
I don’t have enough energy.
Or maybe your version goes like this:
I’m not old enough.
I’m too old.
I’m not smart enough.
It’s amazing how much of our lives are framed by a scarcity mentality. The “I don’t” and “I’m not” narratives shape our view of life and inform the decisions we make. We miss the vision of abundance all around us that has been provided by our Creator.
Changing how we look at life and our circumstances requires us to be present-moment-minded and to practice gratitude. Fixing our eyes on the abundance of creation instead of a competitive, often materialistic social media feeds is a simple way we shift our focus. Contemplation practices help us slow down our non-stop lives to help us receive the Creator’s love and overwhelming generosity.
This receiving, however, is not automatic. We are all surrounded by glory and often miss it completely. As Elizabeth Barrett Browning described,
“Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God,
But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.”
How do we see and receive? Like most things in spiritual life, it begins with small choices:
- We open our hands and hearts by entering creation.
- We notice and name observing the wonders all around us, hidden in plain sight and putting them into words, whether in our thoughts or a journal or to a friend.
- We give thanks praising the Maker of all things for His good, good gifts.
As caregivers and advocates for vulnerable children and families, we need to be reminded regularly that in the economics of God’s Kingdom, there is always more than enough. We use this phrase to cast a vision of abundance for ourselves and for the children and families who need it most. When we fix our minds on this reality and help others see it too, our eyes are opened to all that God can do in our lives and communities for those He loves.
@Cafoalliance
