On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, what I would say if I had a congregation:
In a world where the divide between the “haves” and “have nots” widens with alarming speed. In a world where the poor only grow poorer and the rich, only more blind. In a world where the need seems insurmountable we are a people called. Called to see the abundance of our worlds. Called to see what we have, as opposed to what we do not have. Called to recognize that we are extremely blessed; to whom much is given, much is required. So much is required, we rightfully quake at the enormity of our task. But we are not alone in it. We have never been alone in it.
As we gather together with our families and our friends and celebrate the remarkable blessing of both food and relationships, I hope that we will find time to notice the abundance in our lives. Find time to quietly reflect on how truly blessed we are. Because we are. WE ARE! We are people who have families and food, houses and cars, clothing and jobs, security without thought. . . and most importantly, we are people who are loved.
We live in a world that wants us to believe otherwise. And it’s easy to get focused on what we do not have. The great race toward Christmas is often fueled by such a perspective. So, I am asking that this week we don’t buy into the hard sell and instead deliberately see ourselves as we truly are: People who HAVE.
I am hoping that as we reflect on our blessings we will also notice that we are a people who HAVE the ability to change our worlds. We can! We HAVE an imperative to do so. We HAVE every right to demand a difference for those who have not, and we HAVE the responsibility to lurch into the unknown and be that difference. And all this change begins with our willingness to see ourselves as we truly are. I believe we are up to the challenge. And I know that we do not face it alone.
Happy Thanksgiving to you. May you be people who HAVE and people who know it.
Amen.
On this Sunday before Thanksgiving, this is what I’m saying to you.
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An opportunity to act.
So often the charges we hear do not give us a ready opportunity to act. They expect us to listen and then respond in our own fashion. The temptation, even if we are greatly moved, is to not act. We forget or we get busy or we don’t know how. Yet, for the words to truly mean something, we must act upon them. We cannot let them lie dormant. Words on a page do not change the world. People do.
You can:
Love your community: Oregon Food Bank
Love your world: Bread for the World
Thank you for the reminder and the challenge. In the hustle and the bustle – the time on the roads, in the air, in lines, and in crowds – it is easy to get lost. In my mind, what you’ve written tells me that even though there are others who have more than I – I am still blessed and can use what I’ve been given to help those less fortunate – even if all I can do is to buy some extra canned goods each grocery run and give those to the food bank… every little bit counts.
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Indeed it does. At some point, we have to start seeing what we can do, and not focusing on what we can’t. At some point we must begin to ask not “What can go wrong” but “What can go right?” At some point we must readily inhabit our own abundance, acknowledge it for what it is, and act. With every can of food, you do just that. No act is too small. I’m so glad I have you as a companion on this journey. There are mouths to feed… and souls to reach… and a new world waiting to be born. ~W
Amen to the charge! I was moved last week to start looking for my own way to give, and I think I’ve found it. Weirdly, it seems I’ve been looking for a long time for this answer, I’m glad it finally came to me. I’ve posted about it and will be posting more soon.
~Angela 🙂
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Angela, I’m glad you’re finding a way to act. Blessings to you on your endeavor! ~W
Well said, Wende! So many of us have so much to give if we would only look around us and see it. May this season be a season of giving.
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Thank you, Paula! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours. 😀 ~W
Yet, for the words to truly mean something, we must act upon them. We cannot let them lie dormant.
I’ve always heard that love is action, but it took a very long time to understand what that meant. Thank you for the reminder and for the nudge in the right direction.
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You are a loyal parishoner. 😀 Blessings on the holiday! ~W
Yes, you are so right. We don’t appreciate enough, or do enough. We need to look around, and share more of our bounty.
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It’s a good time to reflect on all we have, I think. And to that effect, I’m very blessed to have you here! Thank you! ~W
You sort of DO have a congregation.
The Church of Wende! I would go! May I be an alter girl? It wasn’t allowed back in the stone age.
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You may, you may. Burn the house down, baby! 😀 ~W
What a beautiful sermon! Thank you for the reminder that we HAVE so much, and the responsibility to act that comes with our abundance. And thank you for being such a wonderful presence in this world 🙂
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Thank you, Marie. We do have a lot, don’t we? I’m eternally thankful for this life! ~W
I would attend a church that gave sermons like this one 🙂
Love,
Jodi
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Thank you, Jodi! That means a lot to me. Happy Thanksgiving! ~W