From The Pastor - November Spire

On Giving Thanks

Central to my understanding of my relationship with God is the belief that "faith grows through service." This belief has guided me in my faith journey. An important part of it is recognizing when, where and how we should give thanks to God. Another is admitting that there are times when I struggle to give thanks as I go about the daily business of my life. I do not believe that I am unique in my understanding, my belief or my struggle. We all know there are times when it is easier to give thanks and times when it is more difficult.

Romans 8:28 reminds us "that in everything God works for good and those who love God... are called according to God’s purpose." But we see that everything is not good.  War, famine, disease, illness, death, violence, bigotry, selfishness and a whole host of daily trials and tribulations can cause us to wonder about this good to which Paul refers.  Amid the pain, sorrow, uncertainty, fear and all the rest, we may rightly wonder where or what is good.

The answer hinges on our definition of good. Just a few verses later, Paul reminds us that "nothing in life or in death can separate us from the love of God." Remembering this, we can trust in the process and face whatever lies ahead, confident in God’s presence, grace and mercy. The good to which Paul refers has to do with our perspective, the way we view the events of our lives. Our faith invites and allows us to view things differently as we remember it is not all up to us. Strength, wisdom, courage and hope are present because God is present.  Believing this can lead to a greater understanding of giving thanks to God, who is present in the midst of all that is happening. This response empowers us to lament and grieve, which is necessary, and then begin the process of moving forward toward the hope that is offered through a loving, healing, redeeming God.

I write all of this knowing that it is great in theory and truly an affirmation of what life can be.  The question is, "how do we do this amid the realities of life?" for none of us is immune to struggle, suffering, grief or the fear that accompanies uncertainty. This is where "service" comes into play.  Yes, there are moments when we are hurting, and tempted to withdraw into ourselves. But if in those moments we instead choose to interact with others, listening to their stories and working side by side with them, we affirm our connection in and through God.  When we respond to others through acts of charity, justice, healing and hope, we begin to heal ourselves. These acts call us out of ourselves, and we see the similarities we share with others. While not minimizing the uniqueness of our own story, such faithfulness allows us to affirm the common elements that are present in everyone’s story.  All of this causes our faith in God to grow.

As we move through November toward Thanksgiving and the beginning of Advent, I invite you to reflect on how your life and faith can be enriched through service. Amid the realities of life there is a God who heals, renews and affirms. May we not lose sight of the beauty and wonder that is offered, not just when things are easy, but especially when we are tempted to focus on that which causes us to struggle.

Peace,
Eric