So recently I got to see a real life monk up close. It was weird. As Alexa said, "I didn't think monks still existed" - well not in America anyway. The most notable thing about this experience was when, in passing, my friend said hi to a certain monk and asked him how he was. His response was simply "I am blessed," accompanied by a large grin.
This struck me. And maybe I put far too much thought into this short interaction, but I really enjoyed his response to that question. So often people blow off the question of "how are you" with a simple "I'm fine." Or, if you're me, sometimes you can't help but launch into a speech about how life simply isn't going your way at that precise moment in time.
What I liked about this monk's response was that it was something that would be true whether he was having a great day or a terrible day. It was a response that stands true for everyone at every moment in time. And I think that's what we need to focus our attention on. Not on how the small things aren't panning out exactly as we had planned or would like.
I think, too often, we (especially in our comfortable American lives) tend to forget that we are blessed. Every day. Difficult times do come and sometimes God leads us through sufferings, but only to strengthen us. And in the end we're still blessed. We still have the grace and forgiveness that He offers.
It reminded me of the book of Job. I had to read this for two different classes this past week (and I may or may not have also written a paper on him). Job had all of his earthly possessions and relationships taken away from him by Satan, yet he maintained an attitude like that of the monk. He never cursed God. Job had all the reasons in the world to recant his faith, yet he continued to say "I am blessed."
{Oh and by the way, college is amazing. I was determined at the beginning of the semester to not change at all while here. But I think I have. I have simply become a better version of myself that I didn't know existed. I still have a ways to go before becoming the person that God created me to be, but He couldn't have brought me to a better place for that. I am blessed.}
