Being Thankful

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
Give thanks to the Holy One,
Give thanks because God's given,
Jesus Christ God's son,

And now let the weak say "I am strong,"
Let the poor say "I am rich"
Because of what the Lord has done for us,
Give thanks.

Does anyone ever wonder why November seems to go by so quickly? It seems like it was only a few days ago that the foliage began to change and God's creation began to engage in the act of renewal once again. And so in this time, I give thanks for many things - and I'd like to share those with others.

I give thanks for my family. Not just for my parents - although it must be said I give thanks for them each and every day - but for my extended family. For the cousins, aunts, and uncles, and in-laws who have shaped my life and give care to my parents when I can't be there. It may just be going to lunch or a conversation on the phone, but it gives their lives meaning. Thank you.

I give thanks for those who have encouraged me in my educational pursuits. I don't think I've ever had a "bad" teacher, but there is an extensive list of those who challenged me and continue to do so to this day: Margaret (Keyser) Northrup, Katrina Andrews, Paige Fleming, Kay Collins, Bill VanPelt, Rob Rupp, John Warner, Arthur Holmes, John Saunders, Sharon Ringe, Beverly Mitchell, Traci West, and Catherine Keller. Through each of you, I've learned the love of reading (and re-reading!), how to engage the texts I read, how to learn from that which I read and write, and more importantly, how to lead others to the love of learning.

I give thanks to those who have encouraged me and challenged me in my journey of faith: Mary Jo Sims, Peyton Strouth, Janelle Willey, Mary Kraus, Chip Aldridge, Carrie Brunken, Jeff and Leighann Prothro, Paul Perez, Anna Mercedes, Rick Bohannon, Michael Sniffen, and Mark Miller. Whether you know it or not, you helped me in small, and often large, ways to draw closer to God and begin again on the great adventure called Discipleship.

I give thanks to those who have taken the time to give me a hug when I needed it, give me a sour look when I needed it, or give me some quiet time in prayer when I needed it. These small things make a big difference in my life.

And so, as Thanksgiving draws near, I ask myself: "How can I do the small things to make God's love known to others?" Maybe it's not something we plan to do. Maybe we do it because we are disciples of Jesus, and when the opportunity arises, we don't ask questions like "what's in it for me?" or "can I put that on my resume?," we just do seize the moment, give thanks to God, and continue on the great adventure.

Silence

I'm sure my silence has been conspicuous (or maybe not) over the past two weeks. As I've heard so many friends and colleagues say recently, "I just don't know where to begin." And so I've started with silence.

My heart is saddened for my sister in Christ, Beth Stroud. I continue to affirm her calling in ministry, as do many others. Beth has taught be many things about what it means to be called to ministry, how to live out that calling to its fullest and not be arrogant. Her humilty is Christ-like and her struggle is part of living the cruciformed life. I yearn for the day when Beth, and many others, can wear the yolk of her calling again and break bread at table meant for all people.

And while I harbor great concerns about the Judicial Council decision in the case of the pastor from Virginia who denied full membership in the Church to a man based on his sexual orientation, I pray for that congregation, the pastors, and the community. While we may fall on one side of this conversation or the other, the humanity and faith of a congregation should be a pastoral concern to which all of us who call ourselves Christian should recognize.

I weep for my Church. I struggle to understand the logic behind both decisions. I continue to pray. I celebrate our differences as a denomination, and I pray that these differences can continue to be held in creative tension. This isn't a win-lose game.

And so silence has brought me to this place. I certainly hold a specific opinion and I certainly pray that the Judicial Council will re-consider the case of the Virginia Annual Conference. I also hope that our General Conference will recognize the interconnectedness of these decisions to the schizophrenic language found in our Book of Discipline. And yet, I pray for the unity of the church for indeed this is the reconciliation to which Jesus Christ calls each of us.

Lord, in a breath you created me, and I am yours. It is your breath that I hear, and it is your breath that I speak. Help me to hear, help me to love, help me to stuggle. Let your will be done. Amen.