November is a full month on election years. After all that intensity, the anticipation of the results and joy or distress at the results, it is good to step back and recalibrate, depresurize our hearts and think about lighter issues. Thanksgiving is coming and we are reminding ourselves of our need for an attitude of gratitude to face the challenges of life so they don’t overwhelm us. So we are using the words “thanks” as an acrostic to challenge ourselves. We are up to the “n”. We ended last week talking about nuts that come into focus at this time of the years. Nuts are treats and we know a few nutty people that challenge us. Noses help us appreciate all the wonderful aromas that float in the air. Our prayers and sacrifices are like aromas floating up to God and pleasing him. Our third “n” is neighbors.
Core to the Thanksgiving story is the presence of the indigeneous tribes and the pilgrims. Even today we find ourselves in communities that are what have come to call multi-ethnic. When we lived in Minneapolis the signs often were in four languages – English, Spanish, Somali and Hmong!! School notices are offered in several languages and medical facilities offer translation services in many languages.
Jesus tells a parable in response to a lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” A man is left to die, beaten by robbers. Three men pass by without helping. They were religious men we would have thought would want to help. Then a foreigner comes and helps the injured man. Jesus asks, “Who was the neighbor?” The answer was the one who showed mercy.
Thanks giving is about the mercy that was shown to the pilgrims so that they survived that first winter in a new environment. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, let us think of people who have shown us mercy and kindness. Perhaps it was only a smile but perhaps it was more. Who might we bless today? Thank you Lord for those who have shown us mercy.
On the Way to Wonder 