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Happy Thanksgiving. Here are a few things I’m thankful for as I gather with family and friends this week. I know we are each compiling our own lists in our heads, but I thought it would be fun to share some of mine.
Donna’s laughter. After 25 years of marriage, I still love that sound, and whenever it comes, it makes my day. It’s even better when I’m the cause of it. I think humor is one of the ways I won her over, or at least I think it is. I think I was goofier looking than handsome way back when, so it had to be something.
Eva’s grasp of dad jokes. Nothing makes a father prouder than when their child gets their humor and embraces it. Eva not only laughs at my puns and stupid jokes, but Eva also delights in retelling them and actually adds to my repertoire. It’s definitely a Purdy-thing.
Calleigh messing with me. Calleigh can be a very quiet teenager, but I am thankful that she still cares enough to mess with me. She does it constantly. I much prefer that she deliberately gives me a hard time (teasingly) than the apathy that scares the parents of teenagers.
The visual of my dad dancing with a cane, like the scene in Young Frankenstein. Ok, so I haven’t actually seen my father do the dance, but last month he graduated to a cane for the first time since his strokes. In my head, I imagine him dancing with Gene Wilder, and it brings me joy. I’m thankful for that image, as it didn’t seem remotely possible just six months ago.
My mom’s tenacity. My mother has shown her relentlessness many times in her life, and watching her tackle my father’s recent health challenges with determination is a gift for all of us. Sometimes I credit UPS with my own drive to get things done, but UPS only honed what I inherited in my genes from my mom.
My staff. You hear me say it at the Annual Meeting or other opportunities when I get to speak about them, and many of you know it firsthand, but I am surrounded by phenomenal human beings. We make mistakes and drop balls sometimes, but this is a group of people that I love deeply and would do anything for – and they would say the same about their coworkers, too. I’m thankful that the people with whom I spend so much time are so lovely.
Our parish. Yes, it’s cliché to a degree, but y’all, I give thanks regularly for Christ Church. Priests talk about our parishes the way parents talk about their children, sharing highs and lows, challenges and joys, and I have to be careful not to share all the good stuff, as it seems more plentiful than most of my colleagues. Our parish is full of amazing people who inspire me every day, and I’m thankful for that. This parish is doing some amazing ministry and changing lives well beyond our walls. I’ve been here a long time in Rector years (they are kind of like dog years, but with fewer fleas), and it’s still a blast.
Max Verstappen. Well, auto racing in general, and all those who make it happen, but with Indy Car done for the season, I’m thankful for an exciting culmination to the Formula 1 season underway, with two races to go. I’d be happy for any of the three contenders for the world title to win it, but thank goodness it won’t wrap up with a bunch of races left to fight for second.
All the composers of sacred choral music and the musicians who sing it. Although I have an eclectic taste in music and listen to a bunch of modern artists, I was recently reminded that a acapella choral music that soars and echoes through cathedral-like spaces can transport me to a deeply contemplative place. Live music, like the recent GIYO concert, is a close second, but I’m so thankful for musicians and the music that moves me.
Today. I have so much to be thankful for (this has been a minuscule list) that I’m grateful to have another day on this earth. I recognize that I have more than enough food, a place to live that is more than adequate, and gifts to help others. I complain about little things far more than I should, and too often I’m thinking about the next thing, or ruminating on the event that just passed and how it could have been done better. Despite that, I’m thankful for today, for right now. I could stand to spend more time and energy right here.
I haven’t named God, Jesus, or the Spirit in my list, because they are sort of ubiquitous in my life, infusing everything. When I say I’m thankful for all the things on today’s partial list, it is thanksgiving offered to God for every one of them, and in thanksgiving for the blessings they represent, pouring from God’s abundant open hand. Who and what are you thankful for? Have a blessed Thanksgiving, my friends!
