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YOU’LL INEVITABLY FIND WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is this month. It’s hard to believe because it seems like time flies by so fast these days. It’s also hard to believe because, as I look around at the world we live in, there are a lot of things I’m not thankful for. The war between Israel and Hamas. The war in Ukraine that rages on. Children around the world are displaced from their homes, and children in our own community are without adequate food or shelter. There’s the global climate crisis, the growing mental health crisis, and people fighting everywhere. And all of these things alongside the day-to-day things we all deal with: the ever-growing to-do-list, bills to pay, jobs that aren’t always very fulfilling, struggles in our personal and family lives. If you look for things to be down and discouraged about, you’ll inevitably find them.
And yet, the opposite is also true. Just take a minute to look at your own life… can you find things you are thankful for there? Do you have people in your life who love you, and people who have been there through thick and thin? Do you have a roof over your head, clothes on your back, food on the table? Do you have a few little things in your life that give you joy?
And then, look at the world around you… are there things in it that you’re thankful for? Despite all the terrible tragedies of the world, do you look around and see signs of God’s hope and love around you? Do you see individuals and service organizations working hard to make the world just a little bit better? Do you see children playing with each other, despite their differences, even when the adults can’t get along? If you take a step outside, do you notice the beauty of God’s creation? If you look for things to be thankful for, you’ll inevitably find them. And noticing all those little things for which we’re thankful can change our whole outlook on life.
Jesus once reminded his followers not to worry about all those things that have us tied up in knots. Instead, he turned their attention to the things we can be thankful for all around us, if we have but eyes to see: “Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth much more than birds?”
If we were to count our blessings we would realize how blessed we really are. Because if we were to look, we would inevitably find more things to be thankful for than we can count.
So, here’s your challenge for the month of November: take five minutes out of your day, every day, to give thanks. You can do so in silent meditation and prayer with God. You can do so by writing an email or a text to a new person each day to express your gratitude to them. You could even start a gratitude journal to write down three new things you’re thankful for to get your day started right. Just take five minutes and see what it might do for our outlook on life.
As you do so, know that one of the things I am most grateful for is you, and this beautiful congregation we belong to. Thank you for the ways you do such good work in making this world a better place. Thank you for the love you share with me and with so many others. Thank you for being you, the beloved child of God you were made to be. And most importantly, thanks be to God for you.
-Pastor Dane
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