Lake Edge United Church of Christ

For Our Souls and Minds and Bodies: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Mathew 22:36-40

Thanksgiving is the perfect holiday to ponder those words. Wonderful really, a day put aside just for considering those things that matter most in our lives. When our spirits are weary, when we run too fast and do too much, we should remember that gratitude creates a direct connection between ourselves and the spiritual world. If we observe our world with a thankful heart, if we slow down and notice what matters most, i.e.: the face of a friend, the stark light of the stars, everything will gently drop back into perspective.

For several weeks now, I have had the privilege of meeting with a group of women who are widows. These women have a lot to teach us about gratitude. I realize that might sound counterintuitive, but in spite of the painful losses they have endured, it is clear to me that their hearts are full. For them, each moment they spend with a friend or a relative is to be cherished. They seem keenly aware that being alive and together is a gift, one that should never be taken lightly. Of course, these women experience hopelessness, anger, sadness, regret, confusion – all the emotions that attach themselves to unrelenting grief – but they also have come to see life through the lens of a very dramatic reality – our time here, on Earth, is limited. It must not be taken for granted; rather, we must appreciate it, honor it, and hold it dear.

It is my hope that this Thanksgiving we’ll find a way to wrap ourselves in the cloak of their wisdom, loving our God and those around us with passion and care. Time is precious. It calls us to seize the moment, to intentionally honor those two commandments… today. Surely, if we do, we can expect to find ourselves more closely connected to all that is divine. “You shall love the Lord…”