Count your blessings - turning the question around

Due to a two hour delay for school this morning (blessing #1), I started surfing via my RSS feeds (blessing #2), and stumbled across the Instapundit's link to his wife's post, "What is right with the world." (blessing #3). Dr. Helen had gotten the question - sort of - from the Anchoress (blessing #4), when she posted "What's wrong with the world?" The Anchoress quotes G.K. Chesterton's reply from 100 years ago (blessing #5):

About 100 years ago, a British paper invited many writers to answer the same question, What’s Wrong With the World?  They extended the invitation to G. K. Chesterton who wrote back,

Dear Sirs;

I am.

Sincerely,
G.K. Chesterton

I will take his answer for my own.  Have at it.

Dr. Helen, as you see, turned that question around, which reminded me of this old song, "Count Your Blessings" (blessing #6):

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, indeed. See? I'm already up to six, and that's without even trying...

You see, actually, that both questions are good questions - and everyone needs to ask them. Part of the problem, however, is that when people answer the first question, "What is wrong with the world?" they don't have the same humble courage G. K. Chesterton had. Remember, when you point your finger at something, you have three other fingers pointing right back at you...

What is wrong with the world? I am.

I am selfish and self-centered. I want things my own way, and I want them now. Other peoples' needs and hurts are far less important than my own. If I am comfortable and secure in my own little world, then I have no need to worry about anyone else. If I am not all comfy-cozy, then I am preoccupied with my own hurt and anxiety and am quite willing to make it all about me, me, ME.

We are all like that, to one degree or another.

But after you have asked the first question, and answered it honestly, you now have the opportunity to answer the second question, "What is right with the world?" correctly:

• The Lord my God is beautiful in His holiness, power and mercy
• God my Savior has reached down to offer His hand to any who will take it
• The Creator of everything has proven His love for His creatures by a lonely death on a bloody Cross
• The King of Kings has conquered death and triumphantly risen by His own power
• The gentle Carpenter from Nazareth has taken me into His family because of His love and grace
• He has given me an honorable and loving husband as well as a beautiful and winsome daughter
• He has given me parents who love me and raised me to respect "old-fashioned" values
• He has given me good friends, who stand by me through thick and thin, giving love and encouragement
• He has given me health and comfort
• He has given me discipline and guidance
• He has given me food for my table and a roof over my head
• He has given me a country where I can still worship and obey Him in freedom and peace
• He has given me a voice to proclaim His glory, to make my opinion known, to laugh with family and friends, to share my small knowledge and offer love and support to those who need it
• He has given me hands for service, a heart of gratitude, and a soul full of praise and joy

What is wrong with the world? Me.

What is right with the world? God.

And that is as it should be...

I will extol You, my God, O King;
         And I will bless Your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless You,
         And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
         And His greatness is unsearchable. 
         
One generation shall praise Your works to another,
         And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
         And on Your wondrous works.
Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
         And I will declare Your greatness.
They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
         And shall sing of Your righteousness. 
         
The LORD is gracious and full of compassion,
         Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The LORD is good to all,
         And His tender mercies are over all His works. 
         
All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,
         And Your saints shall bless You.
They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,
         And talk of Your power,
To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,
         And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
         And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
         
The LORD upholds all who fall,
         And raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
         And You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
         And satisfy the desire of every living thing. 
         
The LORD is righteous in all His ways,
         Gracious in all His works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
         To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
         He also will hear their cry and save them.
The LORD preserves all who love Him,
         But all the wicked He will destroy.
My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD,
         And all flesh shall bless His holy name 
         Forever and ever. (Psalm 145, NKJV)