As Thanksgiving 2020 quickly approaches, we are faced with all sorts of strange dynamics to deal with. There is political, medical and racial discord woven into our daily experience. Each of these issues are significant.  What we wish would go away, as quickly as they have risen, seem to be lingering with little hope that they will dissipate any time soon.  As a result, many people are weary from the disruptions.  As a result, it may be difficult to embrace and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday.

I would like to offer a few thoughts on dimensions of being thankful this year, in light of all the chaos:

1.  Push away from the chaos.  For a little while, and in some ways, dismiss all the nuttiness of our time in history.  Move yourself into a place of identifying the things that remain a blessing to you, in spite of the cultural conflicts.  Think of all the things and people that you are grateful for – people that would have been in your life even if the turmoil had not occurred.  Don’t let the disappointments of life blot out the good things that remain.  Name (and celebrate) the gifts that God has given you in all the blessing invested in and for you.

2.  Embrace the chaos.  Rather than pushing away from the conflicts of our day, I think we need to tenaciously and courageously embrace the fact that we live in a broken, violent, hateful and deceptive world.  Let’s not affirm it, nor should we excuse it, but we have to live in reality even when reality stinks.  God is the God of reality.  He never denies nor avoids it.  He is sovereign over it.  He is never the author of evil, but He does allow it to happen when mankind foolishly exercises its free will in opposition to the blueprint of God’s heart and mind.  In the midst of the tragic impact of man’s rebellion, God is still at work bringing redemption and resolution.  As a result, we can be confident that He is far from being worried. However, He is grieved to the core and committed to offering His aid for all of us, even when things seem to be unraveling.  The end of the story is uniquely trustworthy because the author has all the authority in the world.

3.  Settle into peace.  Four different times in the New Testament, three critically important words are chained together: GRACE, MERCY and PEACE.  Grace is defined as ‘receiving that which we did not earn nor deserve’ – always in light of the generous love that God offers us at His own expense.  Mercy is defined as ‘not receiving that which we have earned or deserve’ – always in light of the fair, reasonable and devastating consequences we have avoided by God’s sacrificial love.  When we recognize God’s GRACE and MERCY in our lives, the result is PEACE.  It is a peace that is not dependent on our circumstances. In fact, it is a peace that is totally independent of our situation.  It is anchored in the grace and mercy that God lavishes on us by His own desire.  He has bridged the chasm that divides us from Him with the most costly of gifts that we could never afford.  

So, therefore, what now?  Even though this is a profoundly strange year, and therefore, a strange Thanksgiving… we ought not to be bumped off our stride of living in peace in the midst of the chaos.  May God’s grace and mercy surround you and infuse you with peace this wonderful season.

With love,

Kevin