Thanksgiving Day

There is a story I had read eons ago, about a young mother, rushing to get her five year old daughter to school one rainy day.  As always they were running late.  The young woman had to get to a meeting and was considering the dozen or so other details of the day.  The little girl amused herself with the puddles as the woman urged her towards the car.  As she fumbled for her car keys, the little girl looked at her and declared, "This is a great day to float sticks in the water."  From children we can be brought back to momentarily consider the basic gifts and wonders that are around us.

The monastics can teach us a great deal about living a well rounded life, praise and thanksgiving.  Their lives are very ordinary, shaped by a routine that includes work, study, and most importantly time to pray and thank God.  The ability to offer prayers of thanksgiving to God on a regular basis keeps us focused as to where our life is from, and on the 'who' we should be dependent on.  When we can pause and recognize the wonders of life, friendships, healing, reconciliation, and healthy relationships, we can also begin to see the hand of God in our very lives.  Then we learn to approach God in faith with our needs and concerns.

The late Father Henri Nouwen taught us so much about growing as a people of thanksgiving.  When we begin to recognize the intimacy that God has with us, and how we as a people can be a gift to each other, it begins to change our perspective of living.  Yes there are hurts and pains, but we can journey forward in confidence and faith knowing that God continues to be one with us.  In Jesus Christ we have the promise of salvation as well as the grace to stand up against the anxiety and fear of life.  Watching seeds sprout and birds fly calls to mind that God's mercy and love is overwhelming this day.

At Liturgy I will lift up the bread, and the chalice full of wine, and say, "Blessed are you Lord God of all creation through your goodness we have this to offer."  We might look at who and what we have received, and bless the Lord for all that we have been gifted with.