“In a time when many people only want to talk about themselves, my grandmother, who is 89, had the least to say when I asked her about herself. Instead, she wanted to share stories about her community, her friends, and her children.”
Amanda, from Tennessee
This week we slow down a little more, eat a little more, and hopefully do a little less. Holidays can help remind us of our place: we are created to work and to rest, and leave the 'savior of the world' role for One who can handle it. This is the essence of the Commandment to observe the sabbath: we are not God and the world does not stop when we take time to rest (Exodus 20). My prayer for you this Thanksgiving holiday is that you are thankful and that you find rest and peace, in the company of loved ones.
But how does one arrive at an attitude of thanksgiving? I've recently heard about one way to get there. Listening. What better way to grow in our awareness of a deep sense of thanksgiving, than to listen and celebrate God's work through the lives of another?
The National Day of Listening is a new national holiday started by StoryCorps in 2008. On the day after Thanksgiving, StoryCorps asks all Americans to take an hour to record an interview with a loved one, using recording equipment that is readily available in most homes, such as computers, iPhones, and tape recorders. Read more at nationaldayoflistening.org.
I think this is a beautiful way to steer our spirits toward a deep thanksgiving. On a day when family and friends are often already together, we should spend some time listening. May God pour out blessings this week, and every week, upon you that create thankful hearts.
Grace and Peace to you, Scott
