A new "learning oportunity"

Wow. Just got back from a class at my church all about the New Thought perspective on prayer. Tonight we were talking about praying for others and also praying about a particular situation or problem relating to ourselves. And I must say I was stuck.

I have an issue, which I am always looking for "solutions" to, that I used in an exercise we did in class tonight. The idea was to first write out everything wrong or negative about the issue, and then tear up that page and throw it away. Next, we were supposed to find the positives in the issue or situation, or at least the positive potential, and affirm those positives. And I just couldn't. Not one thing in the situation I was using struck me as positive. Not in itself or as a potential. And I was frustrated.

I truly did not think there could be anything positive around this thing. And then my minister (who is brillant BTW), showed me her list. It was not around the same issue, but it all could apply to my issue as well. And it completely changed my perspective. I want to share her list, (which she let me take home), because it was so amazing and I need to really get this.
She wrote; 1. I learn about myself. 2. I am brought to my knees where I have to turn to spirit within. 3. I learn to truly care about the "other" instead of being afraid of them. 4. This points me to the truth about myself and provides an opportunity to get back in the flow as I realize how futile it all is.

I heard this, and realized I had not been going nearly deep enough in this exploration of my "issue". But I'm not discouraged by this at all. In fact, it gives me hope. So, I owe my minister a huge thank you for this insight, and a new "learning oportunity".