messagenov2006

Watch out! Here come the Holidays! We celebrate holidays for any number of reasons, including simply the fact
that they pop up yearly on our calendars. Yet each holiday is brimful with opportunity, if only we will seize it.

We made it through Halloween, which is a goof practice holiday, preparing us for the heavy hitters, Thanksgiving
and Christmas. I sometimes wonder whether the Pilgrims were thankful because they survived, or survived
because they were thankful. When we take the many gifts of life, including the miracle of live itself for granted,
our souls fade. We don't recognize this of course. After all, we have so many little things to complain about that
our plate is full. There is always room on it for an extra serving of turkey and stuffing, but not as much room as
there should be for the kind of gratitude the Pilgrims felt as they faced the coming winter. That gratitude was
enhanced by sacrifice. Yet the sacrifice was worth it, because it was offered in exchange for freedom. Looking
back over history, it's almost impossible today to imagine how precious and rare the freedoms we enjoy in this
church and this country actually are. Freedom to believe and worship as one chooses is a remarkable luxury when
viewed int eh light of history. Yet if you're like me, we have that third helping and complain about having eaten too
much.

Let's face it, non of the Pilgrims would have survive Winder had they not found a way to co-exist with the native
Americas, who taught them how to plant corn and modeled life in a forbidding wilderness. This reminds us of
another thing about our histories. Each of us owes his or her existence to the kindness of strangers, may of
whom found that kindness repaid unkindly.

I know I can certainly e more grateful. Fortunately, Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Another splendid
opportunity lies before us to offer up our thanks,. Our thanks for being. Our thanks for being here. Our thanks
for being here together.

Pastor Steltzer