Some Thoughts on Thanksgiving Day

2017 has been a crazy year so far in many ways. It seems like there is a lot of anger and anxiety out there. But when I step back and look at the big picture, I have many things for which to be thankful.

Fortunately I do not know any losers or haters, bloviators or fools. I do know a lot of folks who have intrinsic worth and are making their way through life the best they know how, some more gracefully and successfully than others. I am thankful for folks who agree with this view of humankind because they believe that we are all made in the image of God. I am thankful for those who agree because they believe we are all exquisite, inter-related products of cosmic randomness. And I am thankful for those who agree because they believe some combination of those two.

I am thankful for the folks who build and repair the things I use every day, from the house I live in to the computer network at the office. I am thankful for teachers, farmers, mechanics, bankers, nurses, and the people who make sure I have clean drinking water and electricity at my house. I am thankful for my medical colleagues and my friends who hash through my questions and anxieties with me. I am thankful for people who run homeless shelters and food banks.

I am thankful for my friends in Zambia who have helped me develop an expanded perspective on life and the world. I am even thankful for politicians. Someone has to make decisions about how we live our shared lives. I have met some politicians who I think are principled, ethical, good people. We need more of them.

I am thankful for the life and teachings of Jesus which provide us guidance on how to live; loving neighbors and enemies, seeing the best in those who are different from us, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked. I am thankful for scientific discoveries like those of Robert Guthrie that have made life-changing advances for people I love. I am thankful for books, music, and nature, and a beagle who runs through the woods with me.

I am thankful for Cindy and that we had all three of our children and our soon-to-be daughter-in-law under our roof last night. I am thankful for going to ball games with the boys, hugging Rachel until she is annoyed, and that look that Cindy gives me when I think I have said something clever but she thinks it is stupid. I am thankful for all of my other family members and how they love and support me despite my quirks and "nerdish tendencies."

My hope for the remainder of 2017 is that we can all listen to those with whom we disagree, work for those who are less fortunate than we are, seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly, and each do our part to make the planet we share a better place for everyone.