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It's been such an amazing week weather wise - when do you remember such summer-like weather during October? I spent last weekend at our family cottage and what gorgeous colours were displayed on the trees, while the blue of the sky mirrored in the water was absolutely stunning. I was so thankful for that time in that wonderful place of tranquility, as many who have cottages, or a chance to vacation somewhere similar,  understand. 

But I am grateful for so many things - my family, my friends, this community, this faith family. I am grateful for this country, that I have food, water, a place to call home, I am financially stable, I can travel, I am free. And so I say thank you. To the creator, to the universe, and to all who make such a wonderful difference in my life. 

I found this prayer written recently by our former Moderator of the United Church of Canada, the Right Rev. Richard Bott, which he shared on Facebook one day ago. It is raw and simple and beautiful.

I'm sitting on the front steps,
the concrete cool against my back,
as the traffic blows by on the big, main street,
just over to my left.

The sky is covered with this great, gray, blanket,
and the air has the smell of the rain to come.
I've got plans for the weekend,
some painting and some moving
of furniture and papers from up to down.

Now I know there'll be some turkey
and a big dollop of potatoes
when the family gets together,
and everyone sits around.

I've got memories of my loved ones,
some live closer, some live further,
and some live only in my memory,
and in your Household That Is Love.

I think I'll sit here and remember,
and I'll celebrate the life -
the one that I am living,
and all the others' living,
and the loving and the giving,
that's really life, itself.

And I thank you,
and I thank YOU,
and I thank all the yous that read this,
as I sit here on the front step
and my heart beats on and on.

(R. Bott)

I also share one of my favourite songs at Thanksgiving - "All Good Gifts" from the Broadway musical Godspell which was first performed in 1971. This version is shared by Telly Leung and the LA Gay Men's Chorus. Enjoy.

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Karen Murray-Hopf