Happy Thanksgiving! In the midst of one of the craziest years with loss, suffering, inequality, isolation, injustice, etc it blows my mind that I am more in tune with all I have to be grateful for than usual. Is it because in the slowing down of life that has happened, I have had more time to reflect on what I am blessed with? Is it because as I see how depraved and broken this world is, my understanding of the depth of God's love, grace, and mercy abounds even more so? Is it because in it all, I have been able to embrace what little control (if any I have) as I spent this week praying for good weather in order to be able to even be able to celebrate with family outside? Probably some combination of all of the above...
I cannot control the weather, but God can. I cannot control how other people choose to act in light of a pandemic, I can only be responsible for how I live. That is what I will be held accountable for before God. I can start and end each day in reflection and prayer with God. I can develop healthy rhythms of being in tune with not only my physical self, but also my emotional and spiritual self. I can learn about the brokenness the made-up construct of race has caused in our country and still continues to cause and lament the pain that still ensues. I can love and support the alien in my life and in this world, but ultimately trust that all that is unresolved will be restored in the redemption of the world by God. He cares. I can do a deep dive into World War 2 and be broken at the atrocities and hardship of war, and be broken for the pain it causes and amazed that we as a people keep going.
I can also see the good that people are capable of and doing in the midst of it all. The gratitude for first-line responders that poured out from so many people and cities. All the donations to support families and people in need. People showing their love for others by willing to do something as simple as wear a mask to protect those they are around. Neighbors picking up items from the store for those who are more vulnerable. Being amazed by the simultaneous complexity and simplicity and beauty of nature since other places are closed. Seeing the church be the church and not a building. Being amazed at the resiliency of sweet children who are way more flexible than some of us are who have become set in our routines.
The verse I have been reflecting on is Mark 4:19 which warns "not be concerned with the cares of this world". To determine what the cares of this world are, I first need to look to heaven what this world restored looks like to see what I will no longer have to care about.
Health, our bodies will be restored and there will not be sickness of disease...
Money, there will be no need, God's abundance will lack nothing and all we need to do is ask...
Home, there is already a room waiting for me...
Death, for there will be none...
Loneliness and Rejection, we will be with Jesus forever and it won't exist...
I look at this list that Mark tells me not to care about and realize that the pandemic has made us very focussed on those things most of the time. What does it look like to make the jump of trust- letting go of our control in these areas to fully trusting that we don't need to worry and strive? I think it looks a lot like gratitude and being thankful, so enjoy this day we have to reflect on just that.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
