Thanksgiving Day

27Nov
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe.

-Hebrews 12:28 


Today is Thanksgiving Day, the one day each year that is set aside for us to give thanks—officially, formally, and often in large groups with lots of scrumptious food. But what are we to do the rest of the year? 


Some of you will remember John Claypool, who was priest in residence at Trinity many years ago. He gave a sermon that, if only offered a chance to hear one sermon again, is the one I would choose. This sermon changed my view of life. What I heard John say is that the greatest sin is for nausea to be our metaphor for life—to not fully recognize the profound, indescribable gift of life—to experience the joy of simply being alive. So, how, then, do we begin to recognize the profound, indescribable gift of life and experience joy?


For several years, I had the privilege to develop and teach a course to medical students called “Character in Medicine”. We used the virtues to learn self-reflection. In this course I did quite a bit of research about gratitude. One study divided surgical residents into two groups-one that kept a gratitude journal for 12 weeks and one that did not. The results were clear—reported happiness and improvement in burnout increased fairly dramatically in those that kept a gratitude journal. Other studies clearly demonstrated that gratitude is taught—children do not come into the world feeling thankful. So, how do we teach ourselves to be grateful, if gratitude is not our natural “come from”?


Since 1995, at the recommendation of Sarah Ban Breathnach, who wrote, Simple Abundance, I have kept a gratitude journal and written in it 95% of all mornings. In my own experience, taking the time to write 5 things for which I am grateful has caused me to shift my perspective—I actually experience more things for which to be grateful, and when something doesn’t go my way, I ask, “Is there anything in this situation that I am grateful for?” A couple of years ago, I added something else. I ask myself each morning, ‘Where did I see God/Love moving yesterday?” This has been an incredible added bonus to my practice.


If you struggle to look at life as gift, can you try asking God to show you one small thing you can do to shift your focus and also to help you to take that step?


Musical Reflection - Good to Me - Audrey Assad


Gracious God, Creator of the Universe and Giver of life, Today, as we gather with friends to give thanks and celebrate, help us to feel profound gratitude for this gift of life and to experience great joy at simply being alive. Turn our hearts toward You and to a stance of gratitude. Amen.

Thankfulness

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