When I was a young pastor in training, I was part of a church called Faith Center in Eugene, Oregon. This wonderful church took a step of faith with me and let me try my hand at counseling people. 

I was so green, and yet there I was—in an office, sitting across a desk from people who were pouring out their hearts to me. I would nod like I understood what they were experiencing, then try to offer some God advice.

The temporary office I used was available at certain hours of the day. It was a nondescript room without a name on the door. One day, I was sitting in an office chair, looking out the window, waiting for my next appointment. The office window looked out onto a small patio surrounded by hedges. The patio was accessible only from the private office of our church’s senior pastor, Roy Hicks, Jr., and wasn’t visible from any other window.

As I stared out the window, I noticed Roy step out of his office and walk onto the patio. Roy was a leader who carried authority. He was highly respected in our church movement and by many others worldwide. 

Roy didn’t look happy. His face showed concern and maybe a bit of anger. And then Roy began to walk in circles. The patio was small, so the circles were, too. As Roy began to walk in tight, little circles, I heard him repeating over and over again, “Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus.” This went on for a few moments, then he returned to his office.

Over my years of leading in the Church, I have recalled, on numerous occasions, what Roy demonstrated to me that day. I learned that he carried whatever was troubling him out onto the patio and began to search for a thankful heart in the midst of a difficult moment. This life-lesson said to me, “When nothing makes sense, start thanking Jesus because a thankful heart will become an understanding heart.” I think the limited real estate of that small patio was also part of another life-lesson: “Stay put and don’t move on until your heart changes.”

I have learned that this kind of understanding doesn’t mean we will understand why people do what they do to upset us in the first place. It simply means that each hassle and problem of life is an opportunity to focus more deeply on the One who loves us, and that focus is our reason for thanksgiving.

After all the years that have passed since I watched Roy thank the Lord in his small garden, I do the same each morning when I look out our living room window into the darkness of the early morning. I do the same thing, repeating the phrase “Thank you, Jesus” multiple times. That one choice has changed my life especially on days when being thankful was a chanllenging choice to make.