A Time to Think of Giving Thanks

The Thanksgiving holiday is always a good time to take stock and recall what we're thankful for. The last time I did this publicly was two years ago; I shan't compare the two reflections. As I ponder the year, numerous events and people which inspire gratitude come to mind. Some events are horrific ones generating gratitude because I was not part of them.

I am thankful for:

• Ellie, my sweetheart of a wife.
  
  I would hope the reason for this is obvious.
  
  
• The downing of the Russian passenger aircraft, for which ISIS took responsibility ( and wanted, can you believe it, credit ).
  
  My gratitude is that neither I nor any of my loved ones were on that plane.
  
  
• The visit of Pope Francis to the United States.
  
  I am grateful that he is the leader of my faith family.
  
  

• The synod on the family that Pope Francis called and presided over.
  
  The specific outcome(s) of the Synod are not important; I am grateful for his calling for it, for his asking for input about it from the laity, and for his consistent message to the clergy in attendance: speak your mind, disagree if that what is on your mind, debate and disagreement are the marks of a church that is alive.
  
  
• The many snippets ( sound bites if you will ) that Pope Francis has uttered ... and some of these precede this year The general tone is home-spun rather than intellectual wisdom, the kind most everyone can relate to. And it speaks of a church more interested in the people of the Church than the Church itself. A sampling:   
• "Who am I to judge?"
• "I see the church as a field hospital after battle."
• "I believe in God, not in a Catholic God, there is no Catholic God, there is God ... "
• "Men and women are sacrificed to the idols of profit and consumption:"
• "It is harder to let ourselves be loved than it is to love."
  

• The ISIS attack(s) in Paris
  
  While I certainly abhor both the attacks and the evil behind them, I am grateful they didn't happen here and that they didn't directly touch anyone that I know.
  
  
• On a much more personal level, there are a number of 2015 events and people I encountered that inspire gratitude.
• The retreat I went on just after Easter; it was a wonderful experience.
• The fall that Ellie experienced while I was on retreat did nothing more than worry most everyone connected with it.
• Ellie's moving in with Loretta to help care for her cancer ... I am grateful she was able to do that and proud of her for so doing
• My ability to cope while Ellie was gone.
• The extraordinary grace Loretta brought to her entire dying experience.
• The friends of Loretta's who came to see her while she was in hospice and brought more than enough love to fill the room.
• The staff at the Hospice who did so much to keep Loretta comfortable and welcome Ellie and everyone who came to visit Loretta
• The staff at the Basilica who did so much to make Loretta's funeral and burial a celebration of her life.

There is much for each of us to be thankful for. Please do it. And please take a small amount of time at the end of every day to notice the beautiful things that happened and the people who touched your life that day.

If you would like to comment but don't care to use the comment field, send an email to  walter.comments@inkfounta.in.