Without Complaining or Arguing

For many years now I’ve read through the Bible – starting in Genesis on January 1^st, finishing Revelation on December 31^st. This morning I’m up to Philippians… ‘Do everything without complaining or arguing…’

Really?

Norwich City football is challenging… Our new coach started last week. On Saturday Norwich played at Birmingham. We played poorly; lost 4-1. One commentator described it as a ‘pathetic, embarrassing and abject performance. Last night we were at home to Oxford and could only manage a 1-1 draw

Norwich remain second-bottom of the Championship table, five points from safety. Some fans are angry, despairing, fearful for the future. Norwich fans – indeed all football fans – spend their lives arguing and complaining. It’s part of football culture; it’s part of our British culture.

I’ve just read ‘but, I AM with you’, in which Debby Botes tells her story: Life in South Africa… husband, two daughters… faith… breast cancer diagnosis… mastectomy… chemotherapy… hair loss… recovery. She describes her fears and tears, her relationships with friends and family, the lessons she has learnt. I’m impressed with her honesty and courage… and the complete lack of arguing and complaining – with her family, with her God.

She concludes with sentences like: ‘I have absolutely no regrets but I do have some unanswered questions… For now all I need is to have faith… I am overwhelmed by the absolute peace in my heart and soul… I have experienced and learnt so much.’

Returning to Philippians I continue to read:

‘Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky..’

I find some old notes. My friend Abi preached on these verses five years ago, calling it, ‘Whine or shine?’ Complaining and arguing contrasts with shining. The alternative to the darkness of discontent and grumbling is the brightness of shining stars.

Today I have the choice: ‘Whine or shine’.