{"id":2414,"date":"2015-11-26T10:02:32","date_gmt":"2015-11-26T16:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/?p=2414"},"modified":"2015-11-30T15:03:15","modified_gmt":"2015-11-30T21:03:15","slug":"giving-thanks-thanksgiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/davidrupert\/giving-thanks-thanksgiving\/","title":{"rendered":"Robbed at Knifepoint. Could I give thanks?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Nearly 25 years ago, I was walking in a crowded street in Panama City, Panama while on assignment with the Air National Guard. It was broad daylight \u2013and safe \u2014 so I thought.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, I saw a figure rushing at me from my peripheral vision, and then another from the opposite side. Before I knew it, two teens had surrounded me, each brandishing a switchblade. One held a knife to my abdomen, while the other cut away the back pocket to my jeans to take my wallet.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll never forget standing there, feeling vulnerable and alone, awash in emotions. The sidewalk crowd seemed to be unmoved by the robbery, as if it was everyday occurrence. For me, it was surreal, like I had been in a movie. When the unthinkable happens to us, we often feel detached, as if it\u2019s really not happening.<\/p>\n

But it happened. And I needed to sort out my reaction. Once safe in the confines of the military base in my room, I asked God for\u00a0rapid apprehension, a swift trial and a no-nonsense judge. I wanted vengeance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Eventually reason won out. My frustration turned to appreciation. Sure, I was out $17 and my Phillips 66 gas card, but I had all my limbs and I was breathing.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
Photo via Flikr Creative Commons, Derrial Street Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thanks for the robbery<\/strong><\/p>\n

The 18th century Bible commentator, Matthew Henry was accosted one night by a robber on a dark London street<\/p>\n

He was relieved of his purse, but was left unharmed. Adrenaline pumping through his body, he sat down at his desk and breathed deep. He then penned a prayer of thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thank Thee. First, because I was never robbed before<\/em><\/p>\n

Second, because altho\u2019 they took my belongings, they did not take my life.<\/em><\/p>\n

Third, altho\u2019 they took everything I had, it was not much.<\/em><\/p>\n

And fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Matthew Henry took the appreciation a step further. His prayer wasn\u2019t just about the fact that his life had been spared. He was actually thanking God for what happened.<\/p>\n

Thanking God for the blessings in my life is easy. Food, shelter, freedom and health make for beautiful prayers. But thanking Him for the bad stuff is an entirely different discipline \u2013 and one that I\u2019m convinced will take me a lifetime to figure out.<\/p>\n

Can I thank God for the bad stuff, too?<\/p>\n

Is it possible to give Him praise for a heart that doesn\u2019t beat in time that might give way at any time? Can I thank him for hands crippled by pain that don\u2019t work? Can I express my thanks for a spouse who walks away, for an automobile accident, or for the death of a friend? When I\u2019m standing on the interstate, tire iron in hand, can I actually thank God instead of issuing curses?<\/p>\n

Still. Learning.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly 25 years ago, I was walking in a crowded street in Panama City, Panama while on assignment with the Air National Guard. It was broad daylight \u2013and safe \u2014 so I thought. Suddenly, I saw a figure rushing at me from my peripheral vision, and then another from the opposite side. Before I knew […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2375,"featured_media":2400,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nRobbed at Knifepoint. Could I give thanks?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Nearly 25 years ago, I was walking in a crowded street in Panama City, Panama while on assignment with the Air National Guard. 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