A former student of mine recently introduced me to a facebook group called GMH or Gives Me Hope. This group calls themselves an optimist’s answer to the ever-popular FML. (I trust I don’t have to translate) While I agree GMH is more optimistic than FML I don’t think mere optimism is at the heart of this site. Rather, GMH is a collection of thankfulness. Thankfulness seems to be lacking in much of our society today and sadly our college campuses are no different.  

Each year I give letters to the graduates of Canterbury MSU that tries to express the thankfulness I have for God allowing me to be their chaplain and the hope I have for their future. An excerpt from this letter reads,

“You have been given the two keys to anything and everything a human being could desire from life. The first key is your education. Whatever your subject or talent your education will open for you the doors to knowledge, fulfillment and opportunity in your life here on earth. The second key is your faith in God who is Three in One, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. By virtue of God’s grace you will lead lives of blessing and purpose that will end with entrance into God’s Heavenly Kingdom where you will live forever. Could there ever be a better way to start adult life?

But, just like anyone who is given a set of keys (from janitors to executives) you are now responsible for using those keys for good and worthwhile purposes that help others as well as yourself. You must use the keys you are entrusted with for greater good with honesty and integrity. If you use them to live for yourself alone concerned only for what you can attain while forgetting the lives of others then you violate the trust invested in you. You will fail your fellow human beings on earth and you will fail your God in heaven. But, if you use these keys to promote justice and peace and to help others then you will be a part of the raising up of humanity along with yourself. And, if you give an account of your faith along the way proclaiming Jesus Christ as Lord of your life and acknowledging that all you have is a gift by God’s hands then you will take part in the very salvation of the world.”

Thankfulness is the soil that the seeds of hope are planted in. When we are thankful we acknowledge that we have been given a free gift from another who values us. Our thankfulness is a response to being valued or loved and this thankfulness inspires us to use our gifts to give to others. In this way God works in us to heal the world we live in. Thankfulness acts as the antidote to our sin-sickened hearts which when fearful want to beat only for ourselves and not for others. So when our hurts and disappointments make us want to exclaim FML instead we can pray to God and find grace and love, which are what GMH every day.

by The Rev. Sarah Midzalkowski, Michigan State University Chaplain

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