Thankfulness is more than a one-time event
Turkey sandwiches. Turkey noodle soup. Pie for breakfast?! Leftovers are one of the best parts of the holiday. For a few days following Thanksgiving, we are reminded that thankfulness is not a one-time event. More than an abundance of food, thankfulness is a state of mind, an orientation of the heart, and a continual reflection of a truer reality.
It’s ironic that our culture distracts us with externals, just as we enter a season of reflection and stillness. Piled onto the Thanksgiving Holiday are Black Friday sales, Cyber Monday promotions, and the beginning of holiday shopping. But thankfulness is more than feeling stuffed with abundance or the cheapness of things; it involves experiencing spiritual nourishment that provides meaning, community, and connectedness. This inner satisfaction is a gift that heals us from self-inflicted divisions we have created between spirit and matter.
As Thanksgiving gives way to the season of Advent in the life of the church, the Incarnation of Christ reminds us, once again, of the sacredness of all things. Preparing our hearts for the gift of Christmas morning, true treasure is found in renewing faith in the loving Presence of God. Jesus is born in solidarity with all things, inviting us to awaken to unity at the core of life, from the smallest atomic particles to expansive galaxies and universe. The Psalmists write about the trees clapping their hands, the mountains bowing down in awe, and Jesus says the stones would shout out if the disciples were silenced. Humans are partners with all things in living out God’s glory, commissioned as gifts are given with each Spirit-infused breath.
This Advent season, a time of preparing, anticipating, remembering, and focusing on the coming of Christ, First Presbyterian Church and other congregations in our area provide unique devotional times in addition to worship on Sundays. Such as Tuesday Taize Meditations at 5:00 p.m. mixing silence with song, or the prayer labyrinth open house on December 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. for a walking prayer journey, people are invited to renew their faith in experiential ways.
As all things are made in, through, and for Christ, the Incarnation links the divine with material, offering healing to the world by uniting spirit and matter. Intentionally embracing the sacredness of all things is one of the greatest, on-going gifts Jesus gives through his birth into simplicity. As we look around and see more and more lights mounted on buildings, in trees along the streets, and other external decorations, may we be reminded to continually live from the essence of Light that shines from within. Cultivating thankfulness in our hearts is a gift that keeps on giving.
Pastor Andy Kennaly is pastor at First Presbyterian Church, 417 N. Fourth Ave., Sandpoint. He can be reached at fpcsandpoint.org or by phone at 208-263-2047.