Giving Thanks

November 15, 2013

Dear Friends,

            “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  I Thessalonians 5:16-18

            The Greek word for what we call The Lord’s Supper in the tradition of our sacraments is “Eucharistia”.  The word means “thanksgiving”.  In many of the Christian denominations this is referred to as the Eucharist.  When we gather around the table to give thanks, we are thanking God for all of the things that are offered us through Jesus Christ.  But what Paul reminds us through the Thessalonian letters is that we are to be giving thanks all the time—in all circumstances.  This is hard.  It goes above and beyond.  But it reflects the kind of living we’re called upon to live as Christians.  God provides for our every need—in times of plenty and in want (as the marriage ceremony says).  These are circumstantial.  We are called upon to live grateful lives—filled with gratitude.

            In a training I was attending last year, one of the workshops was focused on the spiritual life of prayer and discernment.  One of the prayers offered for us to consider was so simple and yet so powerful all at once.  This was all it said:  “All gift.”  Wow.  If we look at the things God provides—both what we would call the good and the bad—we are to see it as all gift.  What a challenge, and yet what a reality about the way God sees our lives as opposed to the way we see ourselves.

            In reflecting on these words from Paul about giving thanks in all circumstances, the person of Job comes to mind.  Job loses everything.  His wife, who is still by his side, says to him, “Do you still persist in your integrity?  Curse God, and die.”  Yet Job remains steadfast in his belief, “Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?”  Job never blames God for all the bad that has come his way.  What faith he had.

            In the midst of this time of year, the calendar dictates that the farmers reap the harvest of their labors.  We give thanks for the bounty that is provided from the field, which then provides for all sorts of things that we both need and desire.  And in seeing all that has come from God’s hand, we are inspired to respond with gratitude.  But the larger perspective that God calls us to have is to see everything as a gift—even and especially in the times it may be most difficult to do so.  How can we give thanks when we have lost a loved one?  How can we give thanks when we are laid off?  How can we give thanks when tragedy strikes?  How can we give thanks when we are without hope?  It is not easy.  Our faith provides a foundation for this and for many other times when we may not feel like giving thanks.  If we are too tied to the things of this world, we cannot have that heavenly perspective.  If we are too easily influenced by the changes of day-to-day living, then it will be impossible to give thanks when things get tough.  Prayers that do not cease—a living prayer—allows us to think Godly thoughts.  Otherwise, we are only focused on this earthly life.  This perspective is full of limitations.

            God provides.  All gift.  May we continue to think about living our thanksgiving each and every day.  Blessings abound! 

Peace, Love, Hope and Joy,  Tim