Be Thankful

From the November Newsletter...

As a part of a book club I belong to, I recently read "Letters by a Modern Mystic" by Frank Laubach. Laubach was a missionary in a remote part of the world, and he realized he needed to make sure he continued to connect with God, to not become so busy working for God that he forgot to be present with God. He developed what he called the "Game With Minutes," determining to connect with God, to be conscious of God, at least one second in every minute. The letters, in many ways, detail both his successes and his struggles with this determination.

As I read, though, I realized that, as a pastor, I think a lot about God, but I began to wonder how much I actually connect with God. My personality isn't such that Laubach's "game" would be all that helpful (though I know it has been for some), so I began to wonder how I can become ever more aware of God's presence—as a reality, not just a theory or an idea.

I bet I'm not alone. As Christians, we often think more about God than connect with God. Even in worship that can be true. Then along comes November, when, at least on one day at the end of the month, we're "forced" to think about what we're thankful for, a practice that might move us closer to connecting with God. I began to wonder what a whole month of that might do. So I'm declaring this month as "Thankful November." Let's not just take a day to be thankful. Let's take a month. Who knows...that might lead to two months...or even more. And as we think about what we're thankful for, we'll seek to connect more with the one to whom we are thankful.

So I'm going to be posting on Facebook (or trying to post) something I'm thankful for each day of November. I invite you to join me. If not online, then somewhere. Share with someone something you are thankful for that day, something God has blessed you with. I wonder what might happen to us as a community as we become more thankful, more aware of God's presence in every moment.

And I'll see you at the thankful place on Sunday!

Pastor Dennis