November is defined by Thanksgiving. In a blink of an eye we quickly move to a land beyond the brilliant colors of the maples and the vivid chartreuse of closed milk weed pods. Our consumer culture wants to move us even further, even faster. Thanksgiving too often is seen as that holiday that precedes ‘black Friday” when the orgy of Christmas spending begins. While many have built family traditions into the rush to the stores on that fateful day the phenomenon itself reveals how quickly we dismiss the importance of gratitude in our lives.

Gratitude and thanksgiving, however, are at the heart of religious community and individual spiritual health. My grandfather’s meal time prayer gave traditional expressions to this. With the table set with turkey, stuffing, mashed and sweet potatoes, dried cream corn and green beans he would fold his large hands. That was the silent signal for a moment of prayer. He never rushed this moment. Rather, he loved the drama of the moment and as a minister he knew the power of the pause. If conversations continued some brave soul would say, “Get folded.” As we drew our hands together he would begin: “Oh, give thanks unto the Lord for he is good and his mercy endureth forever.”

Formulated from Psalm 100 these words live in me and have shaped my attitude toward life. While I no longer use the patriarchal Lord language when referring to the unspeakable eternal force of life, I still frequently find these ancient words on my lips when I awake in the morning.” Oh, give thanks for this day,” I will say, “for it is good to be alive and the blessing of love continues.”

Giving thanks opens the heart so it can acknowledge what cannot be denied, life is a gift and love is its affirmation. By saying his table prayer at every meal my grandfather habituated himself to an attitude of gratitude. Practicing giving thanks daily, in whatever way fits your spirit, can neutralize the toxic effects of our consumer driven culture and help you affirm, in the words of one of our hymns, “life is the greatest gift of all.”

Let me suggest that in these weeks leading up to Thanksgiving that you ask yourself what it is about this congregation - the one here in the center of Hudson and your heart that moves you to give thanks. When did this congregation make you feel most alive? What gifts have you found here that lifted your heart in joy and hope?

Blessings,
Stephen