Thanksgiving in this part of the country is a transition
time. We move from the warm golden-yellow world of early fall to the cool
leaden-grey colours of late autumn. Activities that have begun are well
underway. Sneakers make way for boots. Cotton pullovers get placed in the trunk
and wool sweaters come out.
Thanksgiving is primarily a time of gratitude. We have
paused to acknowledge the gifts of love, care and harvest that nourish us. We
have given thanks to God, the source of that love.
I am aware of a connection between transition and
gratitude: the faith that expresses thanks is the deepening faith that can see
hope despite difficulty, trust in the face of tears, promise even through
betrayal. This is hard living, the living through change.
And change of course is what our bodies and spirits are
poised to do. I know that there is some difficulty in your life, and I hope you
take some strength from the fact that I pray for you. At church every week
there are moments of prayer, spoken or silent, that connect to your
circumstances. And while I would never talk about you without asking your
permission, you are part of the unspoken prayers in the great communion of
saints. You are a part of us: we are not
alone.
May you know the blessing of God’s holy presence in the
changes you face. And may you know that we are thankful for you.
The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean
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