The Risk of Grumbling and Complaining.

    The Scriptures warn us about the danger of grumbling and complaining as a mind set. In 1 Corinthians 10: 10 and Philippians 2:14-15 we are commanded to stop our murmuring about life.
Grumbling is to mutter in discontent. This kind of attitude does not look for ways to make the situation better or ask others for help. It is defined as a private expression to murmur with complaint and anger.
    Complaining in an open manner about our pain or grief can lead to resolution. We are not called upon to be victims. There is value in taking complaints to people who can help us handle a bad situation.  This command of Scripture is not intended to lead to abuse.
     This is a basic attitude toward life which is negative and blinding. The Hebrews were delivered from the abuse of slavery and the injustices of Egyptian bondage. They were delivered by a miracle of God's power at the Red Sea. They were guided daily by the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire at night. They were fed each day with the Lord's unique provision of manna. Under Moses and Aaron they now had a good future and a hope which they never had before.
    They did not make it to the land of promise because of their grumbling. They complained about the manna because it didn't taste like the Egyptian diet. They murmured about Moses as a leader with his flaws. They tried to elect a new leader to take them back to Egypt! They accused Moses of taking them into the desert to die of thirst. They demanded God prove his love by providing some meat  which He did with a large flock of sea gulls. Because of their negativity they gave up on the Lord and created their own idol, a golden calf.
     We have a choice to feed our discontent or to open our eyes to the goodness of God all around us. If we dwell upon our envy and anger we can be mad and sad for a general outlook of life. This cuts us off from our Lord and fellowship with Him. Murmuring is a private affair of the heart which we try to hide from God and others. Of course the negativity of our expressions and outlook is poison to our family and friends.  We are warned to learn from the mistakes of the Hebrew children who took the grumbling road to ruin instead of the grateful path which leads to progress and trust in God's promise.
      When I am tempted to get into the rut of grumbling and complaining then I confess to our Lord and ask for His help. Instead of yielding to the negative mood I seek to feed the fire of thankful awareness in my heart.  In my wallet I carry a "mindfulness of blessings" meditation. Here is what it asks me to contemplate. "Am I just not noticing the ways in which things are good because my mind keeps coming up with ideas for what it has to have or get rid of before I can be happy, just like a child? Are there specific steps I can take that would help me move towards greater peace and harmony now?"    May this meditation be useful for you to escape the prison of grumbling. Will you grumble about today or be grateful for the gift of the new day?