Opus 2021-315: Thanks Thoughts: Time for a Tune-Up

Now that we are past Reformation Sunday, to pagans that’s Halloween, we can start focusing on the real joys of this time of year:  Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Keeping things in order, I want to encourage you to get tuned up for Thanksgiving.

I hope that Thanksgiving is not the only day you are thankful.  Might I suggest a little tune-up, a little getting in shape?  I start each day with a time of praise and thanks.  The praise focuses on who God is.  Try contemplating a God who is overwhelming enough to keep each atom in the universe spinning and at the same time be a personal God that cares about you.  Thanks gets down to the way God has moved and sustained me and those I know.  It moves on to the long list of blessings that I walk through each day.  It takes some time to look around me and be thankful for what I see.  

One of our traditions on Thanksgiving Day is to pass out two kernels of corn to each person.  We then go around the table twice having people share specifics on what they are thankful for.  My biggest problem is there are so many things to be thankful for that you run out of corn.  Another is not repeating the great gratitude of others.  

A period of thanks and praise puts you into the position of remembering that you are not thanking the government, the party or Gaia.  You are, or should be, thanking God.  I keep hearing people talking about being thankful but rejecting the idea the God is the giver of all things.  I wonder where they are directing their thanks.

Keep in mind that it is not Turkey Day.  It isn’t Ham Day.  It isn’t Eggplant Parmesan Day.  It isn’t even Mom’s Best Casserole Day.  It is Thanksgiving Day.  It is Thanking God Day.  It is something that should not be only one day.

And of course after dinner you are cleared for take-off on the Christmas music.  Another thing to be thankful for.

homo unius libri