For What Are You Thankful?
Just in case you haven’t figured it out yet, today is Thanksgiving Sunday.
I thought that perhaps we could take some time to think about all the things we have, and the experiences we have been privileged to live during the past year.
I’m thankful for having had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg and experience live the place where our nation underwent a great struggle, even fought brother against brother, father against son. I’m thankful for the bravery of all those who felt it their duty to lay their lives on the line for what they believed. I’m thankful that, in spite of the turmoil that the civil war created, this nation survived, and went on to become an example of how to disagree and still get along with your neighbor.
I’m thankful for my health, and that I’ve had enough to eat over all this period of time. I’m thankful for my family, for my wife, my daughter and my sons and their spouses, and my grandchildren. I’m thankful to have a roof over my head every night, a warm bed to sleep in, a convenient means of get around during my traveling.
I’m thankful for the heartache and struggles that have arisen during this past year; they have helped me become a stronger, more compassionate and caring person (or at least I hope they have!). I’m thankful for the little surprises that have occurred, for the unexpected situations, and for the frequent mistakes and slip-ups that have taken place; each has caused me (I hope) to become a more humble individual.
I’m thankful for the big and the little miracles that I have witnessed in the past year. Sometimes it has been difficult to comprehend any meaning behind some of these, until I have seen those who lived in the very midst of these miracles.
I’m thankful that I have each one of you as a member of this congregation. We don’t look at everything the same way, or believe exactly the same way, or think the same way; and yet, we still seem to have a common purpose, a common goal. We are searching for the same thing – truth – that our lives might become more meaningful and complete. I’m thankful that we can communicate with each other, share our thoughts with each other, even disagree with each other, without being so offended by words that we become enemies.
I’m thankful that God has given me life, has provided me with an example of how he wants me to live, and that he has allowed me to live my life unrestrained. My choices haven’t always been the best, but at least, each time I went left instead of right, I somehow circled around until I was heading in the right direction again.
These are some of the things and experiences for which I am thankful that have occurred in my life this past year. With a little time, I am sure I could come up with a thing or two more for which I’m thankful. But I think I’ve made my point clear: Nothing that happens to us, or around us, or for us, is meaningless. It may seem that way, especially when what happens is painful, hurtful, dangerous, or even spiteful. It may seem that way, when, in a split second, friends turn away from each other because of a misunderstanding of words. It may seem that way when the Preacher pats you on the back one week and says, “Good job!” from the pulpit, and the very next weeks reminds you that you are a sinner and need to change your way of living you life. We have a difficult time seeing the good when we’ve been told we’ve been wrong.
Jesus’ stories were often misunderstood by those to whom they were told. The Pharisees often were offended by what they heard about themselves, rather than opening their eyes and recognizing the truth of those stories. The disciples frequently asked the very question again, even after Jesus told them a story to clarify his meaning. The believers had a difficult time comprehending the essence of these stories, while the unbelievers flocked to Jesus, hoping to hear more. Those of little faith had more to be thankful for, I guess, than those who boasted of having great faith. I guess these “faithless ones” were more faithful than they knew.
As you prepare over the next three days to celebrate Thanksgiving, give pause to remember when, and how, and why that first celebration came about. Think about what those first settlers from across the ocean had to endure BEFORE they celebrated. Even the threat of death did not deter them from giving thanks.
Let us, like they, have a little faith, and be thankful.
Amen.