In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.   - 1 Thessalonians 5:18  

I’VE GOT AN IDEA. 

Thanksgiving is coming. You know… pilgrims, turkey, cranberry sauce… happens every year.  Time to be grateful again.  But on the other hand, let’s be real: life is pretty tough. Our future is uncertain, our present is often sad…  Seems like we have a lot to complain about. Still, complaining all the time is a pretty unappealing way to live.  So this year, let’s flip it around. Instead of having one day to give thanks, and complain the rest of the time, let’s take just one day and heap all our complaints together…. Really let ‘er rip! We’ll call this newly instituted holiday ‘Gripesgiving.’ To underscore the point, homemakers should prepare everyone’s least favorite meal, preferably burned, undercooked, and about an hour and a half later than expected.  In church we could have a service of Gripesgiving, where we list all the things about the church, its situation and one another that annoy us. To get us all in the holiday spirit, the organist will select utterly unfamiliar hymns and play them in an un-singable key.  On the left side of the sanctuary it’ll be so cold you can see your breath.  On the right side, it’ll be so hot as to melt the paint off the walls.  Afterwards, we’ll stage a traffic jam in the parking lot and all go home and watch video tapes of old super bowl games with particularly unpopular outcomes. 

SOUNDS REDICULOUS?    

Of course it is.  But then again, think about how many gripes you (or those around you, if you prefer to gripe about your neighbor!) have made, even if only to yourself between say breakfast and lunch.  

Just a few days ago, there were many, many individuals giving thanks over what they believe is the dawning of a new day in American life. There were parties in the streets, jubilant phone calls flashing back and forth across the globe.  Dancing, laughter and tears of joy were heard and seen in living rooms, public gathering places, and on the highways and byways of America and even around the world.  The excitement in the air was palpable.  But truth be told, there were, if you take the statistics to heart, a number not all that much different from the number of American voters who rejoiced, who were less than happy about the out come of our most recent presidential election.  On Wednesday morning, the day after Election Day, the airwaves, and I’m sure the bus stops and offices and factories, were full of nearly as much upset as exaltation. 

Of course it’s easy to give thanks when everything is transpiring just the way we want it.  It’s easy to evoke all manner of grateful emotions when the coffers are full, there’s money in the bank and our team is winning.  I think if we look around at our world, we will quickly realize that to be grateful under such positive circumstances doesn’t take a very spiritual individual.  A profound relationship with God isn’t necessary to be joyful when things are going well.  When it’s all going well, do we not ‘thank our lucky stars,’? ‘thank goodness’?, and in some cases, yes, even ‘thank God’?  To be happy when life seems pleasing is hardly divine. In fact, it’s basic human nature. 

Yet our Christian faith in as much it is derived from God’s living Word compels us to give thanks in ALL things: 

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ    - Ephesians 5:20 

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.   – 1 Timothy 2:1 

Again and again, we are told to live in a state of eutcharistia.  A state of thankfulness, regardless of the circumstances.   So how can God ask us to do that.  Surely that is almost as nonsensical as a national day of ‘Gripesgiving’.   Nonsensical that is, until we are led by the Holy Spirit to recognize that in Chirst, we are more than conquerors…  (Romans 8:37). And that all things work together for those that love the Lord.  (Romans 8:28) 

Let us then pause to look at the good our heavenly Father has wrought for us, even now: 

-         There may be few of us, but let us give thanks for each soul who has come to know Christ in the long history of our church; each life that has been transformed; and for those who continue to gather in our midst. 

-         Though our future is uncertain, let us give thanks for what God has done in our past, and moreover let us look to what God will do in the future.  No matter what happens, he will not leave us destitute (see Ps. 25!) 

-         Thank God for our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Thank Him for the free course of His word.  Thanks Him for the past and the future, and even the privilege of striving together, in God’s kingdom, right now. 

Peace, joy, blessing and a spirit of eucharistia to all of you!

A brief statement on my philosophy of church music: