Overflowing

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7) Geoff included these verses in his scriptural reflection to begin this week’s staff meeting. The text is familiar to many of us. I recall hearing it recited as a benediction here at RB Community and at other churches. However, I have never heard a pastor incorporate the final four words; “and overflowing with thankfulness.” The earlier verses evoke images of groundedness and structure. While these concepts are important, I am drawn to the adjective “overflowing.” Synonyms include bursting, spilling over, running over. Think of the 23rd Psalm, “...my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life…” We were created to experience the abundance of joy, goodness and mercy offered by our living and saving God. Sometimes it is easy and natural to feel the Spirit moving us to an awareness of the abundance of joy God has placed in our lives. For me, It comes out naturally in the music I sing, write or teach. Just this past Monday night during the Grace Notes practice, we rehearsed the piece, “Joy Overflowing.” As each chorus ends with that title phrase, I motioned to the choir to crescendo, as if spilling over the end of the note, as if to paint the text. Other times, thankfulness is difficult. There are the trivial things, like when my son asked me why our bathroom floor was soft. My instinct was to complain about the blue/green 1990s carpet and how much I wished it were tile. Halfway through my complaint, I stopped myself and stated how blessed we were to have this house and this bathroom when so many others do not have safe shelter or running water. Then, there are the real issues, tensions and traumas we fight. The times we ask God, “why?” Why this illness? Why this death? Why this loss of relationship? Why this school shooting? Why this war? Why my family? Why my kid? Why me? How do we overflow with thankfulness in those times? Well, referring back to Colossians 2, we receive Christ Jesus, acknowledging him as Savior, Guide and Comforter in our lives. We root ourselves in the promises and hopes found in scripture. We put our faith into practice by working to restore and reconcile this earth and all peoples, demonstrating the teachings and compassion of Christ. Then, maybe, it becomes easier to have thankfulness overflow in every season of our lives. Elizabeth Virkler Director of Worship, Music and the Arts