Wednesday’s thoughs
The message is this: “When we think thin; we are invited to think thanks”
Often it seems we dwell on what we do not have; what we have missed having; what has been taken from us. Often we think thin. We think about how our glass has been half full and we are aware of what we have but in the context of what we could have had.
Thanksgiving is a time to think about our blessings; our abundance. Once we get on the train of thought that involves abundance there is no end to the possibilities because we can always build on what we have, it we are aware of it.
If we have life to live and each day an opportunity to live it; we have abundance
If we have friends who like us and loved ones who love us; we have abundance.
If we have the challenge of new ideas and a reason to stretch our mind; we know abundant life.
Psalm 136 says it clearly and repeatedly, “O give thanks to the Lord for God is good, for God’s steadfast love endures forever.”
On Sunday part of our sermon will move us from thinking-thin to thinking-thanks. As for the glass being half full and feeling good about that. How about realizing that there is a glass that we have that has the potential to be completely full. Beyond that we have a glass that has the potential to be completely full to the point that “our cup runneth over”?
The first point of the sermon will try to move us from “Thinking thin” to “thinking thanks”.
If you have ideas about how we do that write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net (if the space is blank just click on the space to the left and my email address will appear) or click on the “comments” box below.
Charles Schuster
I look forward to hearing from you
Chuck,
Our preparations for Thanksgiving and first few months at site follow your thinking thin to thankful motif.
For Thanksgiving we’re required to remain go our village; we don’t get US holidays off, only South African. The worst part is that neither cranberries nor cranberry sauce can be found here. Cranberry sauce is an integral part of the Thanksgiving meal.
However, we have much more than volunteers here and in other countries. Our site is close enough to other volunteers that we’re getting together on Saturday to celebrate. We found turkey meat, an uncommon fowl here. We have food to eat, clean clothes to wear, and a sturdy roof over our heads, which is more than some of our neighbors. We can stay in touch with family and friends over the phone and internet. And at the end of the day, we always have the option of resigning and returning to the wealth and comforts of home.
By sharing our skills and knowledge, we will not only build on what we have, but what our neighbors have as well (to be cont).
(continued) and empower them to do the same after we leave.
Our thoughts over the part two months have often returned to “what could we be doing?” “is this the most effective, helpful, and productive option?” “what decisions are we missing out on because we decided to do the Peace Corps?” Looking at the glass as half full, but still wondering what could have been.
But we are here now experiencing an opportunity that few will have the chance to do and the reality is that many of the “what ifs” will be waiting for us when we return. That’s the beauty of having control over our lives, we have the opportunity to experience things and meet people we never knew we were dreaming of.
Jennie and Ben Bleckley
(Sorry this is two posts, we’re writing it on a cell phone and it only lets us do about 1000 characters at a time.)