Raita Neely

November 27. 2003

Thanksgiving
Philippians 2:12-18; Acts 3:1-10

Let us pray: Loving God, we thank you for your continuing love for each of us, for the mercies which go before us and follow after us. We give you thanks for memory and expectation, for the good that we have known and know today in Jesus Christ, and for the Spirit's brooding presence in our days and nights. We give thanks for one another and this opportunity to worship together, for the differences which complement and complete, for gifts which enrich and disagreements which challenge. Most of all we thank your for our ultimate oneness in Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.

I think it was the beginning of September that I was taken aback to see bits and pieces of Christmas decorations in some stores, by the end of October, Christmas lights were flashing all over the place. I knew Thanksgiving could not be far away; and sure enough, here it is. In this national celebration - the Pilgrim fathers and mothers tug at our heartstrings. The cranberry, pumpkin and turkey people clap their hands in delight for they know the importance of tradition. Even though most of us don't give gifts on this day, unless, of course it happens to be your birthday, I notice that for a number of years now the greeting card people have gotten in on the holiday, and of course it is the day when football coaches delight or go into depression.

Putting aside the current cultural trappings, we all know the story of the holiday: English immigrants, later called Pilgrims, sail rather by accident into Cape Cod harbor and claim the territory that they call New Plymouth. They work hard, fight plague, and disease and somehow some survive and some are even born. After a harvest in 1621, more plentiful than their meager skills at farming deserved, they had a harvest festival to which they invited the native peoples. Grateful to God for keeping them safe, they all ate and drank and celebrated.

Now I don't want to take one iota of praise and esteem from the Pilgrims, but I must hasten to add that Thanksgiving neither begins nor ends with them. Thanksgiving, if there is to be any at all, must begin and end with God. Once we have been able to liberate Thanksgiving from the Pilgrim mystique as well as the "count your many blessings name them one by one" routine, we will have made a significant step in a new perspective and a new possibility in celebrating this holiday as Christian people in the 21st century.

First we have to realize that we do not give thanks for the Pilgrims. Rather, we give thanks to the God whom they loved, that God to whom the slaves of Africa rendered praise, that God who caused Job to rejoice even in his misery, the God whom the lame man praised as he jumped and leaped and tried out his new legs in our story from Acts, the God of all ages past and all ages yet to be. Thanksgiving then, begins with God.

I'm sure you have noticed that Thanksgiving Day is not very far away from Advent and Christmas. Next Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent. That is an accident of the calendar, but it does represent a very important relationship. For it is in Advent and Christmas that we look forward to the coming again of our second chance. In the great expectations of that season, hope is reborn, and with it there is rekindled within each of us the sense that we can perhaps start afresh with a new slate. That is why it is such a welcome time, and that is why it has such a high claim upon the hearts of people of great faith and those who seem to just be hanging on to faith. We are not washed up, the book is not closed. The last word has not been spoken or written and we have cause for thanksgiving that we are privileged to live.

But how are we to live? Paul, in his letter to the Philippians tells us that we are to be blameless and innocent, children of God, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. We are to shine like stars in this world we call home. What a wonderful image! But I wonder, how often do you feel like a star shining brightly in this world's darkness?

Let us go to our text from Acts for a good illustration of shining like a star. In the story of the healing of the lame beggar, Peter and John have a dilemma - no money to give - money would have kept the lame man fed, clothed and with a roof over his head. Things would have stayed for him as they had always been. And maybe that would have been safe and comfortable. But our Scripture story gives us a surprise - in the name of Jesus Christ, Peter and John heal the lame beggar's legs. They become personally involved with him. And a new future opens up for him. New possibilities twirl around him. He tries out his new legs. He hops, skips and even leaps. What a profound image of joy, praise and thanksgiving! The lame man, along with John and Peter head into the temple. All three know whom to praise, whom to thank. Praise and thanksgiving to God overflow the lame beggar's heart and come pouring out of his mouth. God in Jesus Christ has given the lame man a new life. There is community and relationship in the healing and in the celebration, as others in the temple experience awe and wonder at God's healing. Being in the presence of such great joy, we also are moved to give thanks and praise to God. We also are glad the lame man was healed.

To make a difference in someone's life is usually a deeply personal experience between two people. To shine like a star in the deepest night rarely happens by signing a check, although a check can be a welcome thing. I am not advocating that you pass by the offering for ICA that we take today, in fact I hope you will be very generous.

But personal involvement is what changes lives. Rachel Remen a doctor and a counselor who has worked with many cancer patients tells the following story in her book, "My Grandfather's Blessings."

At the age of forty five, George had patented a part of a medical invention. For two decades after that he was the CEO of a small but successful company that manufactured and distributed these parts all over the world.

A fine businessman, a shrewd investor, he traveled widely and collected many beautiful things. Then he was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was told he did not have long to live. His diagnosis shook him badly. All of a sudden, he felt like he had wasted his life. He knew he would need some help so he sought out Dr. Remen and told her, "I have two ex-wives and five children. I support all of them but I don't know any of them. I never took the time to know them or anyone else. I have spent my life doing business, building my company. I don't think anyone will miss me. I have nothing behind me but a lot of money. I have been a stupid old fool."

The part of the medical device that George invented enabled people whose chronic disease was previously unmanageable to live almost normally.

At that time, Dr. Remen happened to also be counseling Stephanie whose whole life had been dramatically changed by using the device George had invented. Respecting patient confidentiality, Dr. Remen asked Stephanie if she would be willing to write an anonymous note to George telling him about her life changing experience.

Stephanie surprised Dr. Remen by asking her if George might be willing to come to her home for dinner. George had expected to have dinner with Stephanie and her husband, but when he arrived, the whole family was present. Stephanie's mother, her three brothers and sisters, several aunts and uncles and a crowd of nieces, nephews and cousins, and many friends and neighbors - the whole community of people who had surrounded and sustained her in the years she was an invalid. It was an extraordinary meal and a wonderful celebration.

For three very happy hours amidst tears and laughter they all joined in to tell George the story of Stephanie's life as an invalid, and Stephanie's life now, as a young wife, also able for the first time in her life to hold down a full time job. It was the story of Stephanie's life and it was the story of George's life. His work had made a huge difference for Stephanie. Her sharing the story, made a healing difference for George in finding meaning and worth for his life. It was a day of celebration and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life and the love of community.

A few weeks after the dinner Dr. Remen asked George how many of these devices he made every year. He replied, "Close to ten thousand", then he quietly added,

" I just knew the numbers. I had no idea what they meant."

Meaning comes as we engage in relationships in the name of Jesus Christ. Meaning comes as we know to whom we belong and who is the ground of our being. Meaning comes as we risk entering the lives of others, bringing the good news of Jesus Christ, by sharing the gospel, by loving, by compassion, by prayer, by sharing our abundance. As our neighbor's need becomes our own, we discover an amazing thing-we no longer see thanksgiving as a once a year celebration, but trusting in God's goodness, we discover ourselves thanks living every day of our lives. Amen.