This week, we wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving. Perhaps your holiday is looking very different this year than it has in the past. Perhaps this has cast a shadow of sadness over the week. It easy to get distracted by the things that are not going the way we’d like them to. Give yourself some time to reflect on what’s missing and what’s bringing you a touch of sadness. These “shadow” sides of ourselves are valid and true. They also give us insight into what really matters to us. To learn, take some time to listen.
What did you learn? What’s important? How can you connect, maybe in a smaller, closer to home kind of way to what really is important to you and your Thanksgiving? Take some time to do what you can to honor what really matters to you this year. Even if it’s “not the way it’s supposed to be”, do something.
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen.
Two tasks for the next week. One is going to be the most obvious. Find Gratitude. Perhaps dig a little deeper into what you’re grateful for. Out of the shadow side, what can you be grateful for? In every situation, in every experience, in every moment, there is both good and bad and everything in between. Cultivate a practice of finding the good, even in the bad. Find light in the dark. Find hope in the despair. Find love in the hate. It’s there. It’s our Purpose to seek it. After all, Advent comes after Thanksgiving and Advent is all about finding the hope and the light and the faith and the peace in the times when it is most hard to find (but we’ll get to that next week). For now, what can you be grateful for? If you are brave enough, feel free to share what you have found to be grateful for out of the emotions and challenges of “not normal”.
The second task, as important as the first, find time to do something kind for yourself. Coming very soon is the season of outward giving and doing and doing and doing. This year is full of extra challenges, take this next week to do something special just for you. Be honest. What is it that you can do, and want to do, that would give you a wonderful moment of peace and joy this week? Then make the space to do this one special thing for yourself. It doesn’t have to be big or glamourous. In fact, what you most need is probably very simple. Savor it and truly enjoy it. Again, if you’re feeling brave, share what you did to cultivate a moment of kindness to yourself.
Sharing is connecting. Sharing is learning. Sharing is giving. Sharing is Gratitude.
Happy Thanksgiving. Please reach out if you’d like to join us this Saturday for a walk through of the 2020 Holly Fair and grab a light supper of soup (12-3). You may choose to make an appointment, and/or order your soup in advance, to avoid waiting at the door or missing out on your favorite choice of soup.
Community Church of North Orange & Tully 