Woundedness and Thanksgiving
Nov 19, 2021.
We are a week away from thanksgiving, when we will be gathering as family and friends to laugh, eat, and watch football. It is also the time when most families offer the deepest prayers of gratitude they will pray all year. And that is meaningful.
#JesusStories: One day as Jesus was walking into a village near Samaria, ten men who had leprosy met him and asked for healing (Luke 17). Rather than praying over them, Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests, which was the protocol for lepers to be taken off the ‘unclean list’. As the men turned to go, their leprous spots and disfigurements disappeared before everyone’s eyes. That must have been some sight; it surely impressed Dr. Luke who recorded it in his gospel. The next scene is one of the lepers returning to Jesus, face in the dirt in humble thanksgiving for the miracle. Jesus then asked where the other nine were, to which everyone shrugged. Then he turned to the one ex-leper, blessed him, and sent him home to his family. I know this verse has been often used in a ptolemaic manner to scold thankless people. However, I wonder if this story isn’t a commentary on the cross-section of humanity in some way?
There are some personalities who are naturally thankful, and others who are not; there are some families who have trained thankfulness into their children better than others; there are some persona’s on the enneagram who are achievers that forget the past and rush to the future, or reformers who ignore what is going right and are always fixing what is wrong, or challengers who are unappreciative of others in their struggle to confront unfair systems. These folks are all designed by God, but lack an intuitive gratitude like the helpers, peacemakers, or loyalists. It appears that some of us can only regain a spirit of thanksgiving through spiritual discipline and practice and liturgy. Shaming them for being like the nine ungrateful lepers isn’t very helpful.
There is a human point in all this to be considered: I am sure that most of the lepers were so excited after their healing that they were immediately desperate to run back to the family they had been forcefully separated from to hug and kiss and cry with them. Do you blame them? Running back to embrace my family would be my first instinct too. While I’m sure Jesus understood this, he still asked the question, “where are the others.” This signifies that gratitude for God’s work in our lives remains an important part of our spirituality.
Finally, there is the deepest point worth our attention: the one who returned was a Samaritan. In other words, rejection and social shaming was normal throughout his life. And the leprosy, well that was a pile-on of reasons to further exclude and degrade him. Is it possible that the continual rejections and exclusions created in this man a heart that could simply never walk away from this kind of divine attention without giving honor? Did it whelm up within him with even greater desperation than the need to hug his family? The brokenness, disappointment, loss, and pain that we have experienced is actually carving a deep gratitude in our soul for every intervention the Lord has brought our way. Thus, the deeper the wounds, the deeper the gratitude.
#DinnerChurchQuotes: We can’t force ourselves to be grateful, but we can stumble into the arms of gratitude when we’re exhausted from our running. (Dan Allender)
#PracticalStuff: This theme of thanksgiving is a particular challenge to me, as I am one of those who is always chasing the future so hard I forget to appreciate those who are helping me get there. So, this is for me probably more than you, but may we look each of our team members right in the eye and thank them from the depths of our soul for their friendship and ministry efforts. And then take a deep moment to thank Jesus for giving this Dinner Church family to us all. It will be good for them…to hear your thanks. But it will be great for you…to breathe the pure air of gratitude.
A Blessed Thanksgiving To You All,
Verlon
Dr. Verlon and Melodee Fosner have led a multi-site Assemblies of God Dinner Church in Seattle, Washington since 1999 (www.CommunityDinners.com). In this decade when more churches in the U.S. are declining than thriving, and when ninety-six churches a week are closing, Verlon and Melodee sensed that a different way of doing church was needed for their 97-year old Seattle congregation. It soon became obvious that they were not the only ones in need of a different path. They joined the FX team in 2016 and founded the Dinner Church Collective. And then in 2019 founded the Dinner Church School of Leadership. There is a lot to be gained when church leaders begin to see open doors in the American landscape that they had previously overlooked. Therein lies the journey for those who will forge a new future for the American Church.
Categories: Uncategorized
11.20.21
By: Brad Andres
“The brokenness, disappointment, loss, and pain that we have experienced is actually carving a deep gratitude in our soul for every intervention the Lord has brought our way. Thus, the deeper the wounds, the deeper the gratitude.”
This recalls to mind the story I’ve been reflecting on regarding Simon the Pharisee and the woman at the dinner. Those who are forgiven much love much.
Thank you for your leadership and insights. Happy Thanksgiving.
11.20.21
By: Kristina Meece
Happy Thanksgiving
This blog helps to remind us that just because someone isn’t outwardly appearing thankful doesn’t mean that they are not thankful for what has been given to them. Thank you.
11.20.21
By: Megan Monterrosa
I am an Enneagram 2, but I definitely still struggle daily to enjoy and appreciate what God IS doing and has done, because I am always looking at what needs improving, how to succeed, how to grow, etc. I have felt the Lord reminding me to take time to simply rejoice and enjoy what He is doing and not despise it or push past it in my drivenness.
I love the point that the more difficult our journey, the more likely we are to be thankful. I think it’s true. Deuteronomy 8 says our wildernesses have the purpose of making sure we don’t forget the Lord when we come into the better land. I’ve seen God train my focus to stay on Him through the toughest seasons and I find strength in remembering and having gratitude for what He’s done for me.
I sometimes put the thanking of team members and volunteers last on my list because there are so many things to get done; but it is so important and they deserve it. My co-lead and I are sending out handwritten thank you cards to everyone who has helped us so far at The Neighborhood.
Verlon, I’m also very grateful to you for many reasons. You’ve encouraged me greatly and the DCSL is life-changing. Happy Thanksgiving!!
11.21.21
By: Julie
I agree that when you have been in the valley you are deeply appreciative of the mountaintop view. You are better able to say bless the thing that broke you. I have also been learning we all express things differently and am working not to judge those who don’t initially respond the way I hope or expect. You never know where a seed has been planted and starting to grow and develop.
We take a particular day a week to rejoice in what God has done and this encourages me to keep doing that. No asking just gratitude 🙏
Good stuff!
11.21.21
By: Charlie Knowlton
Thanks Verlon for this word and the many other inspired messages you have given over the past 20+ years. And thank-you for your leadership for our church.Thank-you being there for Tana and I when we’ve encountered some of our lower situations in our lives. It’s so easy to be appreciative of God’s blessings in one’s own mind and spirit and forget to actually thank God or thank the ones, who He has sent into our lives,
as blessings. Thank-you
11.22.21
By: Dave Family
Thankful for all of the nourishment on those 145th Street (otherwise) lonely Saturday nights from His Word and thank you for the food and coffee too. Many a week I spent reflecting on those timely and life saving messages in recalling the love in the eyes of joy filled volunteers giving meaning to those precious nights- in The Word. You and your gallant crew are leading by example. Blessings this Thanksgiving.. dtk
11.24.21
By: David A. Brakke
I find myself primary drawn to Verlon’s concluding remarks. The idea that “The brokenness, disappointment, loss, and pain that we have experienced is actually carving a deep gratitude in our soul”, seems to be my experience. When you taste something bitter sometimes sugar taste all the sweeter. In contrast, I have also experienced painful experiences that callus my heart rather than soften it. Lastly, I can’t help but see a connection to Jesus’ words in the beatitudes.
11.24.21
By: David A. Brakke
I am intrigued at the concluding remarks. The idea that “The brokenness, disappointment, loss, and pain that we have experienced is actually carving a deep gratitude in our soul”, has often been my experience. When you taste something bitter sometimes sugar taste all the sweeter. In contrast, I have also experienced painful experiences that callus my heart rather than soften it. Lastly, I can’t help but see a connection to Jesus’ words in the beatitudes.
11.24.21
By: Anthony Johnson
“…gratitude for God’s work in our lives remains an important part of our spirituality.” My experience has been that if I’m not actively giving thanks to God I will become bitter towards His people and His work. Gratitude shapes my heart in the present and gives me a better lens to view both the past and the future. Job’s life comes to mind when I reflect on the idea Verlson shared at the end: “The brokenness, disappointment, loss, and pain that we have experienced is actually carving a deep gratitude in our soul for every intervention the Lord has brought our way. Thus, the deeper the wounds, the deeper the gratitude.” Even today’s hurt has an anticipation of tomorrow’s comfort. Thanks for the reminder Dr. Fosner!
12.4.21
By: daryl miller
I am grateful for my volunteers. I give each of my leaders full control over their area. Initially, this created confusion. But, now it has cultivated into a great deal of confidence among everyone. I guide them in love and vision. So, when someone asks something about worship, clean-up, food, and etc.. I simply refer them to the appropriate person and tell them it’s above my pay-grade.