Thanksgiving and Advent

Thursday is Thanksgiving, and Sunday is the start of Advent. Given the state of things, as in a politically and economically divided nation, wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, and a warming planet with the responding violent weather, one would do well to pause Thursday and Sunday, breathe, reflect, and make some decisions on the way forward.

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family and friends. Take some time to reflect on your blessings and relationships, not on ones you do not have. Give yourself time to think about the blessings and relationships you can share with others and bring some light into the lives of others, be they friends or strangers.

Advents four candles stand for hope, peace, joy, and love. Hope, peace, joy, love for oneself, family, friends, and people we may not see or experience. While we wait for the promise brought with the birth of our lord, advent is a time to reflect and commit. Who and what do you hope for? Where can you bring peace, be it local, national, or international? Where can you bring joy to both family and the stranger? Can you find the capacity to love beyond friends and family? Can you put self-interest and greed aside and participate in creating the common good? Can you be strong enough to ask for help if you need it?

Thanksgiving and Advent are opportunities to reflect and commit to bringing hope, peace, joy, and love to the year ahead. They are opportunities to share your capacity for good with intention and commitment, find common ground and reconcile our differences, put Grandchildren over greed, and use our strength to be kind.

If evil be the realm of darkness, let the spirit of Thanksgiving, the flame of the Advent candles, and the promise of the season serve as a call for us to be a people of the light.

Peace and the will to bring light to the darkness.

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