When someone else close to me once complained about Christianity and said they beat you down" (with clerics talk of our sinfulness) she missed the point. It is a beat-down that builds up.
Among the beautiful messages in the 1937 film Captains Courageous is one relating to thankfulness. When spoiled rich kid Harvey says to Portuguese fisherman Manuel about Manuels father He didnt do much for you; I mean he didnt leave you anything" it evoked quite a reaction. Manuel passionately replied in his broken English:
He leave me this hurdy-gurdy a musical instrument that his grandfather leave him. He teach me how to fish how to sail a boat. He gave me arms and hands and feet feeling good outside... and he teach me how to feel good inside. My father do all this; he have 17 other kids beside. What else a father do huh?
This dialogue presents two very different perspectives. One always wants more; the other knows we have already gotten more. And dont we see both one perhaps all too frequently represented in our society today?
One is apparent in the violent protests around the world in which people cause mayhem because by their lights they havent gotten whats coming. The other is represented by people who by a higher light know we havent gotten whats coming and that this actually is something for which to be very very thankful.
As to the first perspective when we dont get what we consider a birthright were usually upset arent we? I want whats mine!" we may think. And as weve seen this can manifest itself not just with the fruits of our own hand (e.g. salary) but with handouts.
In contrast to the anger and unhappiness of this protest mentality is the present" mentality which was colorfully expressed by G.K. Chesterton when he said Goods look a lot better when wrapped as gifts." We appreciate presents because theyre a bonus; theyre things we dont deserve. They tend to make us in a word happy.
What follows from this however is that if we continuously received gifts we could be consistently happy. But how can one cultivate this happiness-inducing present mentality?
While trying raise my ire many years ago someone close to me said about my faith Catholicism is a religion for losers." Yet there was a funny thing about his statement.
He was right.
Yet there was a point he missed.
Were all losers.
And one neednt be a believer to understand the value of the message here. In fact given our times irreligious climate I always like to point out the utilitarian aspects of authentic faith. For there is something that is not a matter of faith but of fact: mans nature. We operate by certain psychological principles and something is clear when taking them into consideration: faith works.
As to the aspect of Christianity relevant here its one that works quite well to remedy a problem of mans nature: that spirit of entitlement. For what do we really deserve? Christianity teaches that since were all sinners we actually deserve damnation. Yet its message is also that we wont get what we deserve because God sacrificed for our sins and is merciful. And there is that greatest gift of all He offers: salvation.
Upon accepting the above everything does appear a gift because we realize that we being losers who lost Eden deserve nothing. All is icing on the cake from the air we breathe to the pencil we use. Oh this doesnt mean we wont ask our boss for a raise or seek better deals when shopping; there can be legitimate reasons for doing so such as the imperative of putting food on your familys table. It doesnt mean we may not sometimes protest. But a wise person protests not because he deserves something but because the Truth the good deserves something: to be defended. And understanding what we really deserve certainly doesnt mean that were unduly beholden to the government; it is just as wrong for the sinners within it to have a spirit of entitlement to feel they have some special hold on the citizenry as it is for anyone outside of government.
So while someone else close to me once complained about Christianity and said they beat you down" (with clerics talk of our sinfulness) she missed the point as well. It is a beat-down that builds up. Its only when our ego shrinks that our happiness can grow; it is only when we become less that what were blessed with seems like more. This is why contrary to the earlier pagan creeds Christianity has always stressed humility. It is why one of the faiths symbols isnt a conquering Caesar flanked by centurions but Jesus riding a lowly donkey. As the prophet Zechariah wrote Behold your king comes to you triumphant and victorious. He is humble and riding on an ass…." It is the triumph of humility.
So now perhaps we can know why Chesterton also said Thanks are the highest form of thought." When were thankful were recognizing the reality that everything is a bonus; were showing the gratitude owed by one who continually receives gifts. And this is easy to understand. After all what do we think of someone who is done a favor and wont even say thank you"? How lofty does his mindset appear at that moment?
We certainly dont want to be that fellow. Yet the attitude in question here isnt like being an optimist either; the thankful person sees the glass as completely full because he is a realist. Our glass actually is full.
For whether God gave us arms and hands and feet and whether we feel good outside or not He teaches us how to feel good inside. He gave us everything we have and the whole world around us besides. What else a Father do huh?