Thankfulness In All Things

I am preaching in Richmond on Sunday at Seventh Street Christian Church. This week the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) receives the Thanksgiving Offering…the Disciples Special Offering that supports higher education in the denomination. Part of my work at the university is Church Relations and working within the denomination to raise awareness about our higher education ministry and to shepherd our funding ties to the church. The Disciples give about $90,000 a year to the University and that figure is much higher if you count the Disciples related endowment interest. Over the decades many of the University’s largest endowments are Disciples-related.

I drew the winning lectionary texts for the weekend, the story of Ruth and the story of the Widow’s Mite (Ruth 3:1 – 4:17 and Mark 12:38-44). Both of these stories are about impoverished women taking big risks. I will resist the urge to do a deep dive Bible Study, but just let me know if you are interested. This week our Veterans’ Day speaker, Major Robert A. Haughton ’91, challenged us to remember the issues of poverty, mental illness and homelessness that veterans face; our campus observed Homelessness and Hunger Awareness Week and several students slept outside in solidarity with the Homeless; our country debated issues like the plight of migrants and access to healthcare in the midterm elections; and our Spiritual Life team, volunteers, and numerous donors fed men, women and children at the Park View Mission. I am reminded what is to have enough and what it is to struggle. I am reminded of how even the smallest “extra” is another’s abundance. I saw again the fear of not being able to provide food for your children, saw the strategies of mothers who did not have enough diapers, and saw first-hand how the lack of funds limits a person’s health care choices. I sang a spiritual that tells the story of a slave living in fear. I talked with students who are anxious to go home for the break. I have heard faculty tell stories of a young alum whose death came too soon.

And yet we also see hope. And yet we also give thanks. And yet we also persevere. And yet we also know blessings.

I have also seen this week our community at its finest: the men’s soccer team showing up to serve a meal. a student wiping the nose of a sick child; a faculty member stepping in for a sick colleague; busy staff members staying late to recalculate a bill; a friend taking a personal risk to help another; a colleague making sure a someone had shoes; a student trusting when they have been burned before; a small group fighting the stigma of mental illness; a student asking how she can step forward to lead.

The power of “story” is that it tells us who we are and what we value. As we celebrate Thanksgiving, please travel safely. I encourage you to tell stories of what your own struggles are as well as of all of the places you see hope. Try to dig deeper into your thankfulness and touch your own personal joy. If you can’t get all the way to joy this Thanksgiving, listen to the stories of others and try to embrace their stories. Find some way to bring joy to someone else.

The Book of Ruth ends with a brief lineage of how Ruth’s son Obed finds a place in David’s lineage and therefore becomes one of the forefathers of Jesus. It is a messy family, just like many of ours and I am sure that big family dinners were not any different than some of ours as well.

Have Hope. Give Thanks. Travel safe.  Blessings, Stephanie.