Thanksgiving 2010

Jesus said, "I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you-- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, `What will we eat?' or `What will we drink?' or `What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:25-33

We went to the store yesterday and it was mobbed with anxious aggressive people trying to make a holiday happen. Everyone get to a day like Thanksgiving and wants things to be perfect, right and good. We want the food and the family to behave and come out just right. And the holiday rarely does rise to our expectations, but God knows what we need and is in the midst of us still. Today as I picked up my phone and heard that a beloved parishioner had died, I was stopped from my frantic silly worry about getting it right and pulled to that place where everything is in the hands of God. Today, as Walter's family gathers to mourn and bid him farewell, may we all give thanks for his days and that God made many people happy through providing him in our midst. We are all temporary travelers who never get it right and yet God looks out for us and protects everyone of us. We are more than lilies or turkeys or a perfect pumpkin pie.

Blessings to each of you as you gather with loved ones, or as you huddle alone safe from the worry of family and hurting hearts. God knows what we need today, this hour, and this very minute. May we go to the place today where everything is in God's hands, that full table of welcome, the place where all are accepted just as they are and know that we are safe and loved, nestled in the heart of God.