Not unlike the “School of Hard Knocks” the School of Contentment takes in the rough-edged people needing to learn something. The difference is those entering the School of Contentment have more than likely already taken the beating.

I ashamedly admit I’m only a part-time student in the School of Contentment at the present time. Full-time enrollment would require me to give up so much of my whining, martyrdom, and my intimate little pity parties for one with such great tiny violin accompaniment. Uh…Okay…sign me up.

Now, I understand everyone has their own reasons for donning the suit of armor known as pity and refusing to let any joy in. My reasons may seem frivolous to many, I am sure, but to me…they are HUGE.

Let me attempt to explain. Last week two bombs dropped. The first, I found out my ex-fiancée is in a “relationship”… ugh, not that it was a competition, but did he have to reach that stage before me? Second, my extended family canceled Christmas…or, to be a little less dramatic, they canceled our traditional gathering on Christmas Day because all the cousins my age (including my own brother) are spending the day with their significant others’ families. Awesome. As if I needed a reminder I was single. Now, I have “dated” since the big breakup over a year ago. I’m no hermit. But, I need to make sure everyone sees the quotation marks around the word “date”. I must use the word lightly or humorously rather. Actually, that could be an entertaining blog by itself in a Bridget Jones-esque style, but I digress. ..

Back to the School…
So, you see why I need to enroll. Obviously the invitations to pity parties have been coming more frequently, I catch myself just before I lay the hand, palm up across my forehead as I tell of my Christmas Day “plight”, and I’m just plain crabby.

What is the School of Contentment?
In Philippians Paul writes: I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Paul enrolled in the School of Contentment too. What? Paul? Little Mr. Gold-Star, Apostle of the Millennia? If Paul had attended Sunday school, his mom’s fridge would’ve been covered in certificates. He is the man. And he needed to learn contentment. Wow. And notice the favorite bookmark quote so oft taken out of context that follows: I can do everything through him who gives me strength. The way I see it, if Paul had to learn contentment then maybe it’s not so bad that I have to learn it too. It’s not natural. It’s okay to be in process, working on it. And the secret isn’t so much of a secret is it?

Also, a good friend of mine shared a bit of her story with me recently and closed with this great advice. “The more impossible the challenge and the amazing the outcome, the greater God is glorified”.

I think about my story to date. Those that have stood by me are both close to God and not so close to God, but they love me and that’s why they’ve stuck by me. How amazing will the day be when God writes more of my story (the part of the contentment that is the plenty part) and I can point to Him and He truly is glorified?

So, if the more impossible the challenge and the more amazing the outcome, the more glory to God…I’m thinking Matt Wertz probably needs my number right about now…:)


Note:For a good sermon in which I stole the title of this blog:Check out Jeff Manion speaking to the community at Mars Hill, The School of Contentment, 2007. THANKS CRISSY!