blots to blessings

George Buttrick was a pastor of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City from 1927 until 1954. He wrote a book on prayer. There is a passage in that book where he tells the story of a man who used a unique illustration to help people see the goodness of God.  ​

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A lecturer to a group of businessmen displayed a sheet of white paper in which was one blot. He asked what they saw. All answered, “the blot.” The test was unfair; it invited the wrong answer. Nevertheless, there is an ingratitude in human nature by which we notice the disfigurement and forget the widespread mercy. (1)

This week I would like for you to start making a list of all the things God has blessed you with, all the things that make life wonderful. That first day, start small and find 10 things that God has blessed you with. Then add another 10 things the next day, being careful not to repeat the things on your list.  

At first, coming up with 10 things might seem easy. The challenge comes in the following days when you need to find unique things every day. This will require that you pay attention to the details of your life. You will need to look for the things in your world that make life wonderful.  

These things you find to be grateful for can include your loved ones, material possessions, or opportunities you have been given. Your list might include things in the physical world: the sun, the stars, trees, and so forth. Perhaps your list will include things like coffee or ice cream (I know mine will). 

Hopefully, you’ll get to the part of the list where you start remembering all the things God has done for you.  

The purpose of this exercise is to help us see the widespread mercy that is so much greater than the “black blot.”  

At the end of the week, my prayer for you is that you’ll have 70 things to remind you of God’s widespread mercy.  
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Peace, 
Travis Segar 
Pastor for Care and Community 

​1 Buttrick George Arthur. 1942. Prayer. New York: Abingdon-Cokesbury Press.