In my home we will choose a third option this Thanksgiving. In our household there will lots of gratitude, but for different reasons. My attitude of thanksgiving is not dependent upon elections or politics. It is not conditional upon the right president or cabinet members. It is not contingent on economic or international circumstances. As the apostle said, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
In the spirit of the season I would like to share what I am thankful for in the new circumstances of these United States of America. I will not repeat the traditional litany of family and friends, food and shelter, health and financial security ... even though I am certainly thankful for these blessings. Rather I will focus on some things that seem precious and precarious right now.
I am grateful for a free, fair, and peaceful election this year. I am thankful that the loser of the presidential contest graciously and promptly conceded, and that the sitting president says he will willingly leave the White House. I am grateful that on January 6 there will not be a repeat of the 2021 storming of the Capitol.
I am grateful for freedom of worship for people of all faiths without the interference of a state religion ... at least for the time being. I am grateful for the economic vitality and cultural richness that immigrants bring to our country. I am grateful that American soldiers are not fighting overseas in forever wars.
I am thankful that all people are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights. I am grateful that these rights are not dependent on Constitution, Congress or Court. They are divinely given and are not bestowed by human institutions, even though they can be thwarted by them.
I am grateful for freedom of thought, encouraged by quality educators and informed by spiritual leaders with open minds and hearts. I am grateful for scientists who shine a light of truth in a dark age that is increasingly anti-science. I am grateful for prophetic clergy who are willing to stand up against bigotry of all types.
I am grateful for courageous people who are willing to risk their lives and liberty to protect not only their own rights but also the rights of the most vulnerable in society. I am grateful for champions of nonviolence who refuse to fight evil with evil. I am grateful for journalistic advocates of free speech, who fight disinformation with truth.
Most of all I am grateful for God. Not the nationalist deity worshiped in so many churches these days. That is nothing more than an idol made in our image. I am speaking of the Ultimate Reality that is beyond religious limitations, national loyalties, and doctrinal definitions. I am thankful that no Grinch can take away that Spirit of thanksgiving.
No Grinch can stop Thanksgiving from coming. It COMES! Somehow or other, it comes just the same! It comes without power! It come without laws! It comes without conventions, elections or force! I hope that this year the Grinches in Grinchville might see that Thanksgiving perhaps ... means a little bit more!" And on that note ... let’s carve the roast beast!
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1 comment:
You have done real service with this post, Marshall. I found it so helpful, so hopeful in its simple acknowledgement of the wonder and precious precariousness of so many of the things that we have to be grateful for in this country. I shared your words with a number of people, including an interfaith clergy group that I am part of and a few of them will be passing the words on to their own congregations this weekend. We really needed this. Thank you.
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