A prayer of thanksgiving

Thank you Lord for the traffic jam today;
people felt safe enough to go to work

Thank you Lord for a hot, rainless day;
people without homes will stay dry

Thank you Lord for hawkers selling food along the streets;
people were able to feed their families

Thank you Lord for a slow and unpredictable internet connection;
people have power in their homes

Thank you Lord for the overcrowded sidewalks;
people were willing to go downtown

Thank you Lord for opening my eyes
to the many blessings that once appeared to be burdens.

While there is no resolution to the election turmoil, the people of Kenya are longing to return to a state of peace. It is odd how just a few weeks ago we would grumble about the amount of traffic there is in Nairobi and yet when the roads were bare we felt unsettled. Now that the traffic is back (from car packed roads to pedestrian packed sidewalks) there is an inner sigh of relief in hope that other aspects of the nation are also returning to 'normal', and with new eyes to the see the blessings that they truly are.

I've been reading about a man named Paul Brand recently who has spent most of his life working with people who have leprosy. He speaks about 'The gift of pain'. His patients' bodies are examples of what will happen to a person who does not feel pain; they will eventually injure themselves badly because there was nothing to stop them from doing whatever was causing the pain. I know that pain is something I often try my best to avoid, yet there are so many lessons and so much gained after experiencing something painful. Just like a story without conflict is dull... so is life without pain.

Many Kenyans are in pain right now, ranging from the loss of loved ones to hunger pains. The elections have drastically changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. It is hard to see the good in this situation, especially as it is unresolved, but I have found hope in the words of Paul Brand to see that there is a bigger picture being painted, one far too complicated to comprehend and we must trust that the gift of pain is at work here. It may be hidden among the ashes of a burned down store or amongst a family that is mourning their loss, or between tribes who feel misunderstood and judged unfairly... but that gift is there, embedded deeply, it may be hidden for months or even years, but my prayer is that God will use the turmoil of the elections for good.

“Its strange- those of us who involve ourselves in places where there is the most suffering, look back in surprise to find that it was there that we discovered the reality of joy” Paul Brand