I wrote one week ago about imitating the "prescription for contentment" of a missionary in Africa. The greatest challenge for me was to stop complaining, even (and especially) about the weather. I've been practicing these past 7 days with limited success but great joy.

It's not always easy to stay cheery with sweat literally dripping off my body. It's darn hot here. As Tim and I talked about this issue in more depth, I realized that no matter what the weather in your city is, most people spend a lot of time complaining about it. I'll have weather to complain about my whole life, not just this short year in the jungle.

Perhaps this year will be the hardest in terms of weather, especially since we don't have the luxury of air conditioning. Will I spend the next seven months whining about the heat? It almost never changes, so it would give me a steady and predictable topic of conversation.

On the other hand, maybe this season could be a chance to learn contentment. After all, I've got a daily opportunity to practice. Will I waste it? Waste this sweltering heat on whining when I could be using it to learn joy? I need a new motto: Don't waste your pain.

I love that Paul says in Philippians 4:11, "I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances." Is it possible that even a whiner like me could learn this lesson? We'll see. As I sit still in this classroom of contentment, I'm turning to a new part of the lesson, the alternative to weather-whining.

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8, the Message

1 Comment

1. Christal Murray on September 15, 2009 at 8:44 PM

   that is great preparation for your life in austin :)