A Perfectly Imperfect Thanksgiving

I hope you have a perfectly imperfect Thanksgiving.

Let me tell you what I mean.

For me, Thanksgiving is one of the best days of the year. Whoever thought it up in American history (was it Benjamin Franklin?) -- THANK YOU! We as individuals, as families, as a nation, absolutely need to stop once in a while and say thanks, enjoy our families, eat some turkey, and count our blessings (oh yeah, and watch football...take a nap...eat more turkey...). In the fast paced world we live in, Thanksgiving is a breath of fresh air. I am thankful for the blessings of my life and for the day to recognize and celebrate them -- and my prayer is the same for you -- a perfect Thanksgiving!

Yet, as I read the news today, I am also filled with sorrow and horror as I hear about others in the world for whom Thanksgiving will be far from perfect. I just read a story of a young African woman who is the product of rape in war, living under an oppression that I can't even imagine (see BBC NEWS http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/05/africa_tales_of_rape_in_dr_congo/html/1.stm). A little warning here -- this BBC story is gut wrenching, and not for the faint of heart. Don't read it if your gut says so.

As I hear her story, and as I think about others both close and abroad whose lives are filled with similar horrors, I am both outraged and humbled at the same time. Outraged that this happens in a world that I too call my home, and yet humbled that I am blessed with relative safety and security, and can celebrate Thanksgiving in peace and joy.

So -- What should I do? I wrestle with myself.

On one hand, I want (and need) Thanksgiving to be perfect, because it is a reminder to me of all of God's blessings, for which I am so grateful, and I want to enjoy it fully.

Yet, on the other hand I also need my Thanksgiving to be imperfect as well. I don't want to get so cozy in my comfort that I forget this young woman's story, or to forget those who live in poverty and oppression, or who are alone and afraid.

I need it to be perfect, but imperfect as well.

So how will I celebrate Thanksgiving this year? By going into Thursday's festivities with a heart of humble thanks at God's blessings, enjoying my family, eating yummy food, and even catching a nap (I hope!) and a football game to boot.

But I will also spend the day aware and cognicent of the pain of those here and abroad who are at the heart of God's love -- the least of these.

Maybe that seems impossible -- to be filled with thanksgiving and pain at the same time.

But I don't think so. In fact, I believe that it is when both are present that we are most fully experiencing the love of God for us and for the world that is hurting.

That is what I hope for my Thanksgiving.

May you have a perfectly imperfect Thanksgiving too.

AMEN