“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 148th (“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.”
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