Thanksgiving 2020

“In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” ― Albert Camus

Gratitude has often been easy for me. As a child, I felt particularly blessed. With a loving family, a wonderful home, and good friends it was easy to feel blessed. Because I didn’t know what to do my gratitude, I directed it to God. Looking back, I can see that gratitude was my first theological thought, my first hymn, and my most frequent sermon. 

I suppose that’s one reason I’ve always loved Thanksgiving. More than the fact that the food was good, the attire relaxed, and I got to see my cousins, it was a day of gratitude and I found it easy to come up with a list of things for which I was thankful when I was told to bow my head at the table.

But this Thanksgiving comes while my heart is troubled by all that is going on in the world. The political yard signs have been put away, but the scars remain. A pandemic has disrupted every aspect of life and we are staggering with fatigue from the new protocols and the way people do or do not comply. The houses in our neighborhood have not moved, but everyone seems more distant than a year ago. Keeping a social distance and wearing masks haven’t helped.

Just as a shadow draws attention to a light, an illness to good health, a loss to a beloved friend, the present darkness can either shroud our blessings or cause them to stand out. 

We cannot be with everyone we love this year – aren’t we blessed to love so many?

We’re exhausted (hurt, happy, wounded) from the election – aren’t we blessed to live where people care about their country?

We’re distraught by the statistics – aren’t we blessed to have our health?

We are worried about our finances – aren’t we blessed to have food at the table and enough to give to others?

We’re confused by all that’s happening – aren’t we blessed to have faith?

In the midst of the darkness, or winter, that surrounds us this Thanksgiving, there’s a light, or invincible summer, and on that I will focus as I bow my head this year.