Thanksgiving Reflections

I had the typical things to be thankful for this year, my family, my friends, a job I like etc, etc...

But it occured to me on my drive home from Columbus to be thankful for the freedom and ability to travel to where my family was this year.

I drove about 600 miles round trip to my family's home this holiday. Most of it on smooth, well lit, 2 or 3 lanes in each direction, freeways. Behind the wheel of my reliable Honda Accord. Averaging over 70 miles an hour (sshh, don't tell the highway patrol)

For most human beings on earth still today what I did was impossible. If you could, somehow, aquire a car and the gas to put in it, there are no, or only poorly maintained roads. For them, traveling 600 miles by road is facing several days of exhausting and hazardous travel.

It's a small thing, but it brought home to me how much I have to be thankful for and how much of it I regularly take for granted.

Happy Thanksgiving

It's something of a cliche, but as we approach Thanksgiving it is easy to get swamped with travel and food and family and getting ready for the next holiday - so this week try to make it a point to stop and reflect on all the things that you have to be thankful for.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving

God is doing a new thing

Well, not really new, music videos have been around for more than 25 years now, but look at the video that the Eastern Erie Deanery youth made at their first meeting this year.

The pictures are from the journey the kids made on our progessive dinner this year. The music is from Casting Crowns. The combination is the Holy Spirit.

Sesame Street

I don't know if you heard, but Sesame Street is turning 40 this year. I watched Sesame Street, pardon the expression, religiously when I was little.

It's amazing how the things that we watch and listen to as children come with us through our lives. I remember my friends and I in college making big bowls of popcorn and sitting down to watch Sesame Street when we need to relax and feel comfortable.

When I was home sick last week, I stumbled on an episode of Sesame Street and suddenly I was a little girl again coming home from kindergarten and having oreos and milk in front of the t.v. before going out to play.

What is it for you that takes you back to that feeling of being safe and protected and that all is right with the world?

All Saints' Day

All Saints' Day is one of my favorite days of the year. I really love the hymns (even though they have lots of verses, they also have great energy). I also just really like being reminded of those who have gone before us.

One of my favorite days was made even better this year, because it was a youth Sunday at St. Paul's and our young people were all around at the service.

Here is a video of some of the festivities today, it's less than 4 minutes long, enjoy!

P.S. St. Paul's folk, if any of you took pictures of the Halloween party on Friday, could you e-mail them to me?