wings
Look at the poverty of others, then give thanks
The year 2004 has been a year filled with excitement and new challenges for me. It appears to me that from January until now, God has blessed me in a unique and wonderful way. The love and support of my family, the renewal of an old friendship that had gone sour, being part of a ministry that ushers God's kingdom into the lives of many, my election and consecration to the office of bishop, the assignment to Holston Conference - quite frankly, things have gone so well that sometimes I want to pinch myself to see if I am dreaming!
Now as the season of Thanksgiving approaches, I am keenly aware of the goodness of God showered upon my family and me. So, my mouth is filled with choruses of praise and thanksgiving to God. I am sure that many of you will also have no trouble finding reasons to give thanks for God's bountiful blessings. Family and friends that love and support us, an understanding that we are forgiven by a loving and benevolent God, good health, more food in our homes than we can eat, reliable transportation, the benefits of a good education, decent roofs over our heads - the list goes on, as we contemplate and count our blessings. God has been and is blessing us.
But, even as I write this, I realize that some will find it difficult to be thankful. When these people look at their own lives, there is little evidence to convince them that God is on their side.
We don't all experience life the same way. When you aren't blessed with a parent who prepares your breakfast every morning, when you can't trust anyone to be your friend, when it appears that life is stacked against you, when you live every moment in physical pain, when your best hope for food depends on the generosity of others, when you walk everywhere because you don't have a car, when you can't read or write or you have to sleep out outdoors - yes, it might be hard to find something for which to be thankful. Perhaps these are some of the reasons why people become so discouraged by life, they just quit trying to give thanks and praise to God. Sometimes life is so filled with trials, challenges, bad experiences and hateful messages, the victims grow bitter, cynical, and angry.
It is sad, but sometimes even churches become bitter, cynical, and angry. If, during this Thanksgiving season, we could look at the poverty of others around us, maybe our complaints and grumbling about what we do not have will turn to shouts of "Thank you, Jesus!"
Or perhaps if we embrace the words of Helen Keller - There is no lovelier way to thank God for your sight than by giving a helping hand to someone in the dark - then maybe Thanksgiving would take on an atmosphere of true thanks giving.
God bless and have a happy Thanksgiving.
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