It's about time

Dear Friends

I am not the “Advent Police.” You may start listening to and singing Christmas carols starting the day after Thanksgiving, anywhere and anytime except on Sunday mornings in church. 

But many of you know I was/am the “Thanksgiving Police” when it comes to stores being open on our national holiday. (Excluding some grocery stores, gas stations, movie theaters etc.)

I am happy to announce, if you haven’t heard, that after more and more stores were opening on Thanksgiving Day (and some staying open after midnight to kick off Black Friday) the pendulum is swinging back. Just look at the list in the pictures above.

While this positive trend may have been influenced by the pandemic and on-line shopping, I like to think it was only because of my efforts. Seriously, one of my proudest moments was when my letter to the editor on this subject was published in the LA Times on Thanksgiving Day, several years ago, as the lead letter (in the separate box with a picture)! One of the lines from that letter sums it up---It’s Thanksgiving Day, not Thank$getting Day. On the same Thanksgiving Day, I had a different letter on the subject published in the Riverside Press Enterprise. (You can't send the same letter to different newspapers).

So to practice what I preach, may the only stuff  I get on Thursday be stuffing.

Now excuse me while I go set up some cameras to catch any Amazon delivery vehicles trying to sneak into my neighborhood.

John

 

Thanks for you!

 

“Be joyful always, pray at all times, 

be thankful in all circumstances.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Dear Friends 

I have often reminded people that St. Paul did not say be thankful for all circumstances but in all circumstances.

It should not surprise you that I am not thankful for the results of the recent election. But it is also hard to be thankful in these circumstances, this moment in our country’s history. I suppose I can give thanks that close to half of those who voted (it was not a landslide) still believe that character counts when it comes to leaders in any position, much less the highest office in the land. I believe character is the first thing you need in a leader, because it affects every decision that is made. No one has a perfect character, but we’re talking about a deeply flawed one as evidenced by the person's own words and behavior.

While I have been, to quote Paul again, “weeping with those who weep” it is hard to “rejoice with those who rejoice.”

But as we approach Thanksgiving Day, we need look no further than the Bible, and for Episcopalians, our Book of Common Prayer and Hymnal, to find some words that can inspire and help us move forward day by day with thanks and hope. There are so many examples but here are just three which come to mind in this post-election moment.

Colossians 2:6-7

Since you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, live in union with him. Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives in him and become stronger in your faith as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving.

Excerpt from “A General Thanksgiving” p. 836 BCP

Accept, O Lord our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us… We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone…

Darwall’s 148^th (“Ye Holy Angels Bright”, Hymn 625 v. 4)

My soul, bear thou thy part, triumph in God above

And with a well-tuned heart sing thou the songs of love!

Let all thy days till life shall end, what e’er he send

Be filled with praise.

 

And finally, as the cartoon above says, “Thanks for you.”

 John

 

Recipe for Success

                              

Dear Friends

After watching the parade and celebration at Dodger Stadium today, I was inspired to write these words (and yes, with Tuesday’s election in mind). The picture above, from today’s LA Times, also inspired this blog.

Different personalities. Different politics. 

Different countries. Different colors. 

Different strengths. Different styles.

But look what mutual love and respect, sacrificing and working together for the common good, and not worrying about who gets the credit achieved for the Dodgers this year.

And don't forget the character and intelligence of the manager, who treats his players with dignity and trust and leads with joy.

It sounds like a recipe for success our country needs right now.

John