How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you? (vs. 9)
It’s good to be back. While I enjoyed my three month sabbatical and being disconnected for a while, I was ready to get back in the swing of things when I returned to the office on Tuesday afternoon. Reconnecting with Pastor Liz, our Director of Evangelical Mission, and Ida, our bookkeeper, and the other folks I’ve seen in meetings and gatherings the past few days has felt good. I can echo Paul’s words of gratitude for my partners in ministry in Oklahoma, Arkansas, across the Church and around the globe.
The three months went by quickly. My wife and I (along with our dog) spent some quality time in our RV visiting family in Arizona, seeing the Grand Canyon, driving through a bird sanctuary north of Salt Lake City, exploring Yellowstone National Park (pictured) and stopping by Custer State Park in the Black Hills. I visited my mother, and sister in Milwaukee and my daughter in Chicago. Then, I spent four days on a silent spiritual retreat… I didn’t say a word out loud from Wednesday afternoon to Friday morning (those who know me well will wonder at that)! I spent time reading, praying, and walking in the woods. Then, I came home and wrote the book on loss, grief and nostalgia in the life of the congregation I’ve been researching for the past several years (thank-you to those Facebook friends and others who shared their feedback on the need for this book – it was very helpful!) While writing, I took care of my wife who has been recovering from ankle surgery (and doing great). I am thankful to God for blessing this time of renewal, reflection and creativity, and to those who covered for me while I was gone – especially Pastor Liz.
Gratitude and thanksgiving are core teachings in both the Hebrew and Christian scriptures. God’s people give thanks. They give thanks in good times and in difficult circumstances. In the Psalms, thanksgiving and lament dance around each other continually. At the center of their dance is the confession that God’s steadfast love endures even the worst of times and that God’s faithfulness can be trusted even when we can’t feel it. Grateful people find it easy to love, tend to be quicker to forgive, worry less about themselves and serve more.
This Sunday, the first Sunday in Advent, is the first Sunday of a new church year. During this season of anticipation, we look forward with hope and expectation to the coming of Jesus. As we begin this new telling of the story of Jesus, I would encourage you to look for reasons to be grateful. That’s not always easy. Scripture is pretty clear about that. But, even if it’s just gratitude for your next breath, gratitude can be found if we look for it, and are open to it finding us. My suggestion would be to start with the manger.
As I ease back into my work as Bishop of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, my gratitude overflows for this ministry, for this call, and for all of you.
Peace,
Bishop Mike
Thanks for reading! Say a prayer of thanksgiving for blessings big and small!
