So Lucky - So Blessed -So Thankful

I do not claim to be a very gifted or unique person. In fact, there have been personnel committees that thought I should be Richard Bland.  I have never been the "hare" and jumped and rushed off to do stuff. In my positions in work and hobby I have generally preferred to be part of the arrangement and management team rather than on the speaker's platform.  I recognize that is strange for one who was a preacher for 40 years.  The sermons were probably more serious reflections than emotional stem winders. But I was also never willing to refrain from taking a stand on important issues. An Open Letter to Anita Bryant, Letter of support in the paper for McGovern, opposition to the Vietnam War and campaigning against the war in Iraq.  Of course the reaction of my congregations were mixed depending on their view.  I do know that members of churches do not mind if you mix religion and politics together as long as you are on their side.  My persistence in following a decision has generally meant my term of service on community agencies has been one term. When the agency went through the process of developing a five year plan, I would ask each meeting how that plan was being worked. Of course, nobody really wanted to work the plan, it was only to fulfill the by laws to have one.

Still as I enjoy my retirement, I have to confess that I have been very blessed. My father died of a heart attack watching Ed Sullivan one of his favorite TV program. My mother's death was a bit more difficult as she had liver cancer and had to have hospice care. But my children are both grown and responsible adults. One has married and has two children, a boy and a girl.  We have had our share of medical issues, but they have not impacted our lives the way so many others have suffered. Some car wrecks but no one was injured in any of them. I have not been unemployed as long as I wanted to work.  I look around and listen and hear so many tragic stories, so many people with flooded homes, so many people with lost limbs, so many college students without jobs and high debt.  The dark side of life has invaded so many people, drug addictions, long term cancer, drive by shootings. I have not been forced to experience any of that.

I remember a woman once was quoted that sometimes you look around and you suddenly feel so thankful and grateful for all that has been in your life and in your experiences and you feel you ought to say thank you, thank you, thank you to someone or to something.  That is why we have Thanksgiving.  To say thank you to the One who created the world, who created life, and who has given you life and allowed you to have such a long and gracious life. Thanks be Unto God who gives us the gifts.