Well, it is that time of year again. Thanksgiving. We go through our routines of preparing turkey feasts and planning family gatherings, and then we dutifully respond to the inevitable question, “What are you thankful for?” We rattle off our standard list and call it good. But seriously, what all should be encompassed in the expression of our gratitude? The apostle Paul admonishes us to be giving thanks both for everything and in all circumstances[1]. How can we capture the depth and breadth of this?
In terms of depth, we need to understand the nature of thanksgiving. We often think of thanksgiving in association with benefits: what are things which give me help, strength, beauty and joy in life? Yet, if I am to give thanks as the apostle suggests, there may be things or circumstances in my life which do not seem to be beneficial for which I am also supposed to be grateful. The act of thanksgiving is an act of receiving – can we gratefully receive all that is present in our lives?
In terms of breadth, I suggest we take a cue from journalism in which the lead paragraph of a story (our story) strives to include the five W’s: who, what, when, where and why (throw in the How as well if you can).
What
Living in a materialistic, affluent society, my initial instinct is to give thanks for material possessions. We tend to think of these things as blessings, but they can also be burdens. Possessions become things which require energy and attention from us in order to maintain and protect them. Depending on how we make use of them, though, our possessions can also allow us to be a blessing to others. They can enable us to help and serve others in need.
Beyond possessions, there is much more in this material world for which we can give thanks. Think of all that we see in the Creation which bring us delight – things which sustain us not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Think about the gain we receive from experiencing the beauty we see at our city park, a stunning sunrise or sunset, or a mountain vista. Here we need to be careful about where we direct our gratitude. I have heard some blithely state that they give thanks to nature or to the universe. To be clear, the universe does not give a rip about you. It does not function in any way out of respect for you. If we realize any benefit from nature, it is because it was given to us by the One who made it. Paul reminds us that, “all things were created through [God] and for [God]”[2] – always good to keep things in proper perspective.
Who
My second inclination at the Thanksgiving table is to be thankful for the friends and family in my life. Again, we tend to think of this in regard to those from whom we derive some benefit, but are we willing to give thanks for all the people in our lives? How about the people who benefit from us – people who are the objects in our sphere of work or community service – people who are tied to our purpose in life? How about the people who aggravate us or grieve us – people who cause us to develop our character – who enable us to grow in our ability to have patience and grow in our sense of compassion?
If you are a God follower, then the most obvious person(s) we are thankful for is the triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It is from God that we receive every good and perfect gift, but by comparison, everything else in this world is rubbish – all things in this life sink far below the worth of the eternal relationship with our Creator[3].
When
Have you ever given much thanks for the point in time in which you exist? This may be one of the more difficult things for us to discern because we do not have enough perspective in the moment to understand that. Often, we see such blessings and benefits with 20/20 hindsight. In the biblical narrative, it does not seem capricious when we exist in history. Think of the admonition of Mordecai to his niece Esther when he told her, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”[4] Or, think of Joseph whose brothers sold him into slavery which in time landed him in a position which enabled him to rescue his family from famine. What are the unique ways you are being blessed or able to be a blessing simply because your place in time?
Where
Similarly, since space and time are utterly intertwined, do you give thanks for where you are? I have had the privilege of living in a number of different places in the world, and found each to offer unique opportunities to grow, learn and serve others. The apostle Paul in his address to the people of Athens told them that God, “made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.”[5] So, it seems God was in some way intentional in placing each of us at a particular time and place in history. How are you blessed or are able to be a blessing simply because of where you live in the world?
Why
Ultimately, the who, what, when and where’s of our lives coalesce into the purpose of our lives. To the materialist, we do well just to survive in this life, and then we die. Period. We all sense, though, there is more to life than just surviving. Rather, God sees our lives with a purpose. He told the nation of Israel before they went into captivity (not fun) that, “I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jesus told us that he came so that his followers would, “have life and have it abundantly.” That abundance is not to be understood in terms of material wealth or an untroubled life because Jesus also told his disciples they would face persecution. That abundance, I think, lies in having a purpose. The apostle Paul described that purpose in this way: “we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” [6]
We all think how nice it would be to have an untroubled life, but nobody lives in a utopia. That is okay. In literature, all the attempts at utopian societies end up in dystopias. Utopia is not good for us. We thrive and grow through all the challenges of life – both good and bad. Thankfully, there is more at work in this world than random circumstances. Paul tells us that, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” It is most helpful to recognize that God is the one who is working in us “to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” and that God “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.”[7] At this Thanksgiving, I hope you may realize all the goodness and fullness you have received in the five W’s of your life.
[1] Ephesians 5:20 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18
[2] Colossians 1:16
[3] Philippians 3:8 and James 1:17
[4] Ester 4:14
[5] Acts 17:26
[6] Jeremiah 29:11, John 10:10, Ephesians 2:10
[7] Romans 8:28, Philippians 2:13, Ephesians 3:20
Cicada Song 