Amy Boucher Pye

Tag: contentment

  • Devotional of the week: How much is enough? (10 in Ephesians series)

    But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for the Lord’s people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God… For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. (Ephesians 5:3–5, 8–10)

    Leo Tolstoy posed an age-old question in his 1886 short story: “How Much Land Does a Man Need?” His protagonist is bitten by the land bug; once he completes one purchase, he seeks out the next deal. Then one day he is given a chance to stake out as much land as he can cover by foot, as long as he returns to the starting point by sundown. He greedily runs farther and farther, only turning back when he realizes the sun is setting. He makes it back to the starting point just in time, but drops dead from exhaustion. How much land does a man need? Just six feet for a grave.

    Paul knows that greed, when left unchecked, can grow and flourish like a weed. He wants to stamp out even a hint of it, along with other sins such as sexual immorality and obscenity. Sexual sin was rife in biblical times, including prostitution, sexual misuse of slaves, and promiscuity. Our culture, too, remains sex-craved and sex-saturated. We are not immune; impurity can enter our minds and bodies like a worm, growing ever stronger as it feeds on our fleshly desires.

    No longer can we dwell in that darkness; now we are actually light in the Lord. Light dispels the darkness, so as we live before, in, and through Christ, we will glow in his holy light. And we will bear the fruit Paul mentions, namely goodness, righteousness, and truth.

    May we be content with his riches, not desiring more than he has chosen to bequeath to us.

    Prayer: Lord, give me peace in your presence, and help me to be content.

  • Are you content?

    Ever notice how we feel envy at those just up a level from us, in our chosen field? So, for instance, I don’t feel jealous about Anne Graham Lotz’s publicity or multi-book contracts. She’s a planet away from where I think I could ever be as an author. But that new memoir doing the rounds by the woman living in Midwest of America? In unguarded moments I let myself wonder, could that have been me? Could I be the one living in the Midwest, the state in which I was born, close to my family of origin (taking part in family birthday celebrations and mother/sister shopping expeditions)? With my book jacket getting exposure and all those radio interviews and endorsements and reviews? With blogs and Facebook shares and retweets?

    The view during a recent trip with treasured friends. How can I not give thanks?
    The view during a recent trip with treasured friends. How can I not give thanks?

    But that’s not my life, my lot. And an author in the Midwest could look at me and say, Wow. She gets to lead a retreat in sunny Spain. She has stacks of free review books. She meets amazing authors. She lives in LONDON, after all. How cool is that? Castles and cathedrals and a multicultural city and the land of Mr Darcy.

    Why aren’t we content? Why do we compare? Why do we let what is healthy get covered in an insidious green slime? Why do we let envy eat away at what is God’s gift for us? I don’t want to let this deadly sin reign in my life. And deadly this sin is – when I exercise it, I become a smaller person. Less interested in others. Not grateful for the manifold gifts God bestows on me. Not walking with God in wonder, practicing his presence, with him ushering in the Kingdom.

    And so I choose to bless that author in the Midwest. I pray she will make connections with her readers and that God will be glorified. That she will add to the discussion of life and faith and what is true and good and beautiful.

    And I will count my blessings. My family, here and across the ocean. My circles of friends. The words I get to write. The trips I get to take. The books I get to review. A front tooth presented to me by CutiePyeGirl yesterday, complete with a sloppy kiss. The surprise affirmation the Vicar-with-whom-I-sleep just received. The glimpses of Oxford Street I took in yesterday after my author meeting – the lights and activity and man-sized Lego Santa. The unbidden, “I love you” from PyelotBoy.

    And with King David, I say

    Lord, you’re my portion
    You’re my cup
    You make my lot secure.
    And Lord, those boundary lines?
    They’re in pleasant places.
    Thank you.
    I’m content.
    I’m grateful.
    I’m yours.
     

    How bout you? What feelings are you letting reign today?