Thanks 11.23.2023

     The only music that Mrs. Beckman and I can universally agree to listen to when driving is that by the late pianist George Winston. We saw him perform at least three times and enjoyed every concert. If George Winston is not playing whilst we are driving one of us is probably less than enthused. Often, we don’t play any music at all. 

    When we were young newlyweds, she purchased me a stereo system for my study. She also gave me two CDs. One was an anthology of Baroque tunes, the other Autumn by the aforementioned George Winston. Since then, I have always begun to play Autumn in mid-September. I will keep it in heavy rotation until, right about this time of year when transitioning to Christmas music I switch to another George Winston classic, December. This transition moves me from Autumn and sermon calendar writing (I know, you knew I’d get that in there), to Thanksgiving and Christmas. The lads were in the building today putting up the tree so we can decorate it on Sunday evening. We moved the Nativity scene from storage to the front of the Church house. 

    The first track on the album December is entitled Thanksgiving. When I hear that tune, I know that the change is coming! One preaching calendar is culminating, and I am putting the finishing touches on the next. We have selected and will soon affirm our new Elders and Deacons for the coming year. Things are starting to feel and will soon look a lot like Christmas. And right in the middle of this transition is the need and opportunity to give thanks. 

    During the next several weeks I will spend a lot of time reviewing last year, reconsidering decisions and interpretive strategies, and revisiting camp lessons and workshops I prepared. I try to be a hard grader…but more than anything else revisiting these ministry opportunities fills me with gratitude. I am thankful for every person I have met this year, even those who were not particularly pleased to meet me. During 2023 good things happened and bad things happened. Some of the occurrences were expected, and other occurrences were surprises. Each circumstance we encounter and every person we meet is a chance to be thankful to God for who you have met and what has happened to make you a more mature disciple. 

    We associate Thanksgiving Day—the entire week really, with a bunch of cultural phenomena which don’t have any spiritual motive. Our media-driven culture will seek to cozy up to the so-called “spirit of the holiday”, though it is easy to discern other driving motives behind the acknowledgment of thanks. The mantra of food, football, and family can be transmuted countless ways into shopping or profit. 

    We won’t be traveling this year so it may be easier for me than for those who will be on the road. I will look back at the past year for the purpose of preparing for the next. I will count my blessings and count the cost. I will try and focus my thanks not on the material blessings that seem to get the most attention around the holiday but upon the immeasurable blessing of redemption in Christ Jesus through the message of the Cross. As I write these words I’m listening to Thanksgiving—the song, cultivating Thanksgiving—the attitude, uttering Thanksgiving—a prayer. I hope you have the same opportunity.