Thanksgiving Eve

 Today is Thanksgiving Eve.  That sounds a bit strange, as we normally think of an “eve” day as being Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve.  Thanksgiving…the holiday…seems to sometimes get lost in the general noise of life as we gear up, so to speak, for the “big” holiday of Christmas.  According to an AI search of the Encyclopedia Britannica, the holiday was officially proclaimed by Abraham Lincoln in 1863 as a way to promote unity in a war-torn nation.

In a real way, the nation today is also in disarray…torn between right and left, conservative and liberal, religious and secular.  I have to wonder if the Thanksgiving holiday, properly observed, could help facilitate our coming together, if even for just a day, to celebrate unity…unity of purpose…unity of spirit…unity of brotherhood.

I don’t know what you will be doing in a special way…if anything…tomorrow.  Some of us are working.  Our jobs are a 24-7 thing, and we are on one of the shifts for tomorrow.  Some of us are traveling, whether by air, auto, or other means.  Or maybe we’re staying home cooking a special meal for our family or guests.

But some of us will be doing none of that.  Some will be on the street, in a shelter, in a hospital, a jail, or some other place we’d rather not be.  For those of us who will be in a warm home filled with the aroma of turkey, dressing, green bean casserole, and baked bread, it might do us good to at least think of some of the others who, for whatever reason, cannot be in a place like the one we are in.  And maybe we need to count our blessings instead of our challenges.

Last week, the wife and I took a short time off to go into western Kansas…a place we both are very familiar with.  We decided to get away, but to do so to a place we already knew…roads we had already traveled…towns and cities we already knew how to navigate.  We visited with people we’ve known for many years.  We ate at places we’ve known for decades.  We traveled roads and passed through towns…places where we had gone many times before in the past half century.  We stopped at tourist sites we already knew, with one or two new ones sprinkled in.

During those few days, I was thinking about times past and gone…people and places I had known…things I had done in those places…and just how much I have enjoyed my time alive on this ball of dirt.  Yes, there were challenges.  Yes, there were times I’d rather forget.  Yes, there were people in my life I’d rather not have had there.  But my life has been one of blessing, adventure, and protection.

Blessing in all that I’ve been able to see and experience that was good, right, and lovely.  Adventure in getting to see and do things that few others have experienced…my life has been rich and full.  Protection in guardian angels appearing at just the right time to save me from some catastrophe…usually of my own making.

Thanksgiving…yes…absolutely yes.  Thanksgiving just for tomorrow.  No.  Positively no.  Thankfulness daily is (or should be) the order of the day…this and every day.  Blessing, Adventure, Protection.

Maybe you have a different way of looking at life which brings you to a thankful attitude.  Whatever that way is, exercise it today, tomorrow, and every day.

And, maybe you find it difficult or impossible to be thankful.  Perhaps you’re struggling physically, mentally, or emotionally.  I don’t know what you may be going through right now, but know that help is available.

May God bless you as you walk through this time in your life.

Let Someone Know You Care

 Sometimes, in the course of living in Wichita and my work as a minister, I have occasion to hear, primarily through social media, of someone from my past who has been hospitalized in one of the Wichita hospitals.  It could be a classmate.  It could be someone who was in school the same time as I was, but a different grade.

When I hear of someone in the hospital that I know, I don't always make the trip to see them.  Sometimes, I hear about their hospitalization too late to go, as they've already been dismissed.  Sometimes, the relationship I had with that person was not one conducive to allow such a visit.  Sometimes, we barely knew each other, and it just didn't seem to be the thing to do to go for a visit.  But sometimes everything seems right, and I go for a short visit just to let them know that I know and care.

The visits are indeed often short.  Our lives long ago went in separate directions.  I have only attended a couple of our class or all-school reunions over the past almost 60 years.  I didn't have that many good friends in high school.  I wasn't a social butterfly.  And several of those friends I did have are no longer with us.  The last of the two or so reunions I attended was in 2017...our 50^th.  I don't plan on ever attending another reunion.

Sometimes I'll meet that person's family who may be there.  These would be people I don't know at all.  Those family members and I usually have a good conversation about what's going on with my friend...at least enough that I have some idea of the situation at hand.  They seem willing and at times even eager to talk about the situation.  So, sometimes I just do a lot of listening.

And, it seems that these incidents are becoming somewhat more frequent.  Of course, that would be expected, since most of us are well into our 70's, with the accompanying aches, pains, and illnesses that often attack.  I count it a privilege, though, to be able to make the visit and if even just briefly, for a moment re-establish the relationship.  And hopefully, my visit does something in a small way to provide some kind of relief and comfort.

There is one thing, though, that always seems to befuddle me when I encounter these situations.  I'm usually always calling up out of the dark recesses of my head memories of long ago.  Many times, those memories are videos complete with sound.  They are usually just snippets a few seconds long, but they're there as surely as I'm here.

I have to marvel at what I am experiencing.  How is it that somewhere in that gray mass of cells called the brain, these videos or still images are stored...kept...and recalled...sometimes 60 or more years after the event happened?  What kind of retrieval system does the brain have for these thoughts?  How does that work?  Why are some things stored permanently and others are soon forgotten?  Is my whole life somehow stashed away in there, but I can only recall certain aspects of it?  How are the physical brain cells changed when a thought...an image...a sound...is stored away?  Is there a limit to the information the brain can hold?  If so, what does it do when it reaches that limit?

I know that the people who study the brain may have some answers...or think they may have some answers to these questions.  But even so, what happens in that mass of cells in my head remains a mystery in so many ways.  I have to wonder just how it is that someone can reasonably conclude that such a marvelous piece of biology could have been put into existence by chance and happenstance.  I won't go into that in detail in this post...I'll leave that for another time, because the primary point in this thought is this:  If you hear of someone you know who is having some kind of health issue that necessitates that person being hospitalized, and if you think it might be good to make a short visit, by all means do so.  I know hospitals are places where a lot of people don't want to go, even when they're well.  I know it sometimes hurts to see someone else in discomfort or ill health.  I know it may take some time out of your day...you'll have to park in a far-away spot and navigate your way to the right room on the right floor.  And it might be difficult to find the words when you do see that person or that person's family.

But, put aside your own uncomfortable-ness and think of the one who is hospitalized.  Think about whether you would like someone to visit you should you be the one in that hospital bed.  Make that visit...even if for only five minutes.  You have no idea just how important it may be to your friend and his or her family for you to say that you care.

What a Concept !!

 As you all probably know by now, the United States government is “shut down,” to use the words of various media sources.  What that practically means is that many aspects of government have no authority in law to spend money, and so must curtail services until such authority is given.

There are some services that can, under law, continue to spend money, and there are other services which can keep their employees working, but their pay is delayed until the issue is fixed by the Congress and the President.

It's a complicated thing, this shut down business.  On the one hand, the very people who can fix the issue, but don’t, receive their regular pay and benefits.  On the other hand, those on the receiving end of the shut-down have to continue working as “essential workers” for no compensation until the law is changed.

And then there are those who rely on government services who suddenly are without.  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is one such service.  Suddenly, tens of millions of people are without one of their basic means of survival.

Yes, I am well aware of the pro’s and the con’s regarding the SNAP program.  I know there are some who think it is a waste of resources and a huge mess of corruption.  There are others who believe the program is the savior of the world, so to speak, at least regarding food assistance, and want to expand it to many more.

I’m not here to argue any of the ideological points.  The truth is there are people who legitimately need assistance with basic necessities such as food.  That need may be filled by government, by non-profit orgs, by faith communities, or by individuals.  My guess is that if private orgs and individuals would be able and willing to fill the need, there would be no need for a SNAP program on a government level.  But that’s a topic for another day.

What I AM here to say is that I am seeing people step up to the need.  I am seeing people donate what they can afford to give.  I see every kind of donation from a can of green beans to a several thousand dollar check.  People are volunteering to work food pantries.  People are helping load and transport case lots of food.  People are spreading the news regarding the location and hours of the food pantries in the area.  People are delivering food to folks who can’t go to the pantry for whatever reason.  It’s heartening to see.

And I’m also seeing something I think is more important than donations of food or money.  I’m seeing people opening their minds to the truth that there is hunger and need in their neighborhoods.  I’m also seeing people open their hearts to the plight and circumstances of others.

Open minds and open hearts.  What a concept!  What a thought!  Could it be that this government-made situation be an instrument to help us open our minds and hearts to better enable us to love God and love our neighbor?

Paul Purdue, a minister with the United Methodist Church, wrote in a recent blog regarding open hearts and open minds.  I’ve slightly edited a part of it for this Thursday Thought.  Here’s what he said:

Sadly, much of what passes for Christianity in America today is closed minded, cultural bound, and increasingly hard hearted.  Such a faith rides up like an ill fitting jacket binding us up with do’s, don’t, oughts and shoulds.  This kind of Christian thought shuts down our minds, pinches off our compassion, and limits our capacity to love God and neighbor.

We substitute a list of norms, beliefs, and behaviors for a relationship with God…the God who told Abraham to immigrate, made Sarah laugh, empowered Moses to challenge Pharaoh, emboldened Esther, entrusted Mary with the fullness of God’s very self, went fishing with Peter, taught us to love, flipped over tables, suffered humiliation on the cross, rose from the dead, breathed the Holy Spirit on the disciples, changed Paul’s heart, and still speaks today.  Could it be that maybe…just maybe…an open heart and open mind are essential to faith?

This is Jay again.  I’ll just leave you to answer that last question yourself.  What do you think?

Meanwhile, if you’re at all able to help provide food, warmth, shelter, infant and baby needs, transportation, or any other need, please step up during this upcoming holiday season, and throughout the year.

Open minds and open hearts.  What a concept!  What a thought!