Thanksgiving

By the time y’all read this, you will hopefully have recovered from eating lots of food the day before, spending time with friends and family, and watching the Cowboys lose.  Hopefully, the Eagles will have also returned to winning ways actually playing well.  Or maybe you’ll be resting your feet, propped up in front of the TV or with a good book after standing in lines on Black Friday.  That brief period between Wednesday and Sunday of Thanksgiving week has always had good memories for me.  Growing up, we usually hosted Thanksgiving, I loved seeing some aunts and uncles, eating lots of good food, and then it was a tradition to decorate the Christmas tree on the Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving.  Down south, it wasn’t too cold, but there was a crisp to the air, and lingering beauty in the fallen red, gold, and brown leaves. 

            We have a lot to be thankful for.  One thing I am thankful for is all y’all’s generosity.  Sara and I were talking about that in the office this week after she dug through all of the winter clothing donations for the Thanksgiving meal at Holy Communion Lutheran Church.  And the money donated for the meal and the church.  And this was after all of the donations of food for the Chester County Food Bank.  And the money coming in for the Owen J. Roberts School District appeal (the one where I’ll shave my beard… and maybe my head)…  Given all the anxiety, worry, uncertainty, and general “angst” in the world, it is SO refreshing to see generosity, giving, and empathy as a response to it all. 

            Rather than huddle in bubbles of anger and fear, it is wonderful to see people coming out of “self-protective” mode and help others who truthfully need help, need some protection from hostile circumstances and conditions.  It’s one thing to pull back into our shells (I’ll admit I want to do that sometimes) or get reactive and want to attack “those people”… it’s a whole ‘nother thing to want to engage and give, to get out of ourselves for just a little while.  I am thankful for all of the ways y’all do that.  Thank you!

            It is an act of faith to give.  Even if we have abundance and privilege it opens us up to others.  I think the Holy Spirit works in those cracks and openings between ourselves and others, like air that can move through the smallest gap.  The Spirit is wind and breath; let us open the “windows” to our soul with acts of giving.

Peace,

Pr. Christian

P.S. In total, we collected over 50 multipacks (packs of 2 pairs or more) of socks, over 100 pairs of gloves, over 30 scarves, and over 200 hats, which we brought to Holy Communion on Thursday. Again, thank you for your generosity!