The other night, I ate dinner with my host family, and the pre-meal prayer was pretty much the title of this post.
Growing up, my family stopped praying before each meal because it became more habit than it was gratitude.
I don't know why it caught me off guard to be thanking God for salvation. It is sort of the ultimate point to be reconciled with God. But it did.
Even when I do prayer before meals now, it's usually just a "Thank you for the food and [insert small prayer about current pressing issue such as needing to finish a paper or study for a test]."
Being thankful for salvation is something that I often fail to do. Growing up, we did communion once a month, so I'd think about it then, but not many other times.
Somehow I simply lose sight of the most significant part of Christianity. Somehow I turn it into a vessel for social justice or a good set of morals to live by or something to hope in. But that's not it.
God sent his son to his death, so the we could be redeemed. And I need to be more grateful than I am.
Do you ever struggle with missing the point?
Thank you for the food. And for salvation.
I would say everyone misses the point at times. No matter what faith or spiritual path someone follows, they struggle with reconciliation. For me, appreciation that we are all connected in this web of life is a challenge. It's very easy to get drawn into a routine and lose that sense of awe. In your case, salvation becomes a ghost of a thought until you are faced with it's meaning.
ReplyDeleteUsually when I feel myself falter from my path, I take a journey to dedicate time to meditate on my purpose. Perhaps you might want to consider taking a personal mission trip, just time to spend between you and God.
Good luck. :-)
-Ryan