Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and my guess is it will look a little different than in years past. Instead of large gatherings with extended family, we might find ourselves staying home with those closest by our side. It might not be what we had planned or wanted, but much of this season has been filled with unexpected turns, reimagined celebrations, and new ways to stay connected. Sure, our tables might be smaller, our meals missing a few essential dishes, but the meaning remains the same. Thanksgiving is a time for us to pause from our busy lives, something we have done more of this year. Instead of lamenting about the things we have lost or felt anxious about what is to come, Thanksgiving calls us to stop, breathe in God’s grace, and give thanks for the blessings we do have in our life. It also grounds us in the Divine, so that can weather life’s storm.
Meister Eckhart, a well-known mystic, believed that thanking God was the most important prayer. Prophets and monks learned that gratitude brings you closer to God. Thanksgiving enables you to see your life in a broader context beyond your immediate troubles. It expands your life experience, from the present to the whole. It counteracts preoccupation with losses, fears, and wants. It helps us embrace an attitude of gratitude. Living with an attitude of gratitude means that we live our lives in a way that shows thankfulness for everything – both in the good and bad circumstances we experience in life.
Teddy Roosevelt once said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” Do not let the thoughts of what could have been in 2020, or the fear of what the beginning of 2021 might be, rob you of the joy you have experienced or could experience. Yes, we have all lost out on some great things this year, but if you take the time and do the hard work of reflecting on the totality of the year, my guess is there will be plenty of blessings, both big and small, to give thanks to God for this year. May those blessings provide you with warmth and comfort this Thanksgiving as you embrace and live out your attitude of gratitude into the new year.
Youth of Geist Christian Church 