Thanksgiving in the midst of turmoil

Self-centredness being what it is, I often get so focused on my difficulties that I overlook the graces abounding around me. Thanksgiving is a good opportunity to take an appreciative look at everything God allows to happen to us, not only acknowledging the obvious blessings, but also recognizing that the thorns he lets us struggle with are ways he is working in our lives.

Of course, thorns can be minor or life-threatening; for one person it’s a car with a flat tire, while for another it’s a cancer diagnosis or the death of a loved one. Pain, suffering, and grief come to us all, and we naturally question why and how to avoid or overcome them. Thanksgiving, however, is a day when we can thank God not only for the plentiful gifts we receive every day, but also for the assurance that he sent us a saviour in Jesus who shares in our struggles and burdens, and helps us determine how we should respond to them.

The Church abuse crisis offers one such opportunity. As we ponder and agonize over past wrongs and limp toward next steps, we can be sure of one thing: God is working his plan through the imperfect actions being taken right now.

Each of us has an opportunity to be a part of the solution, using our gifts and talents and prayers. We should have every confidence that the time of tribulation we’re going through right now will lead to a Church that is refined by fire. Whether the outcome is a restructured institutional Church, priests who are better prepared for their vocation, or laity who are more committed to living out their faith, all of us are being handed a particular cross to carry to help the Church emerge from this crisis in a healthier state. For that we can be thankful.

It can be difficult to regard other crises in the world in the same way. Politically, the globe is a minefield. Protracted civil wars, nuclear sabre-rattling, rampant corruption, oppressive regimes, religious persecution, and refugee and food crises occupy the headlines. Yet in the midst of so much turmoil, peace processes and negotiations are taking place around the world. Faith and aid organizations are feeding more people than ever before. They’re resettling refugees – although not to the degree needed. (Per capita, Canada led the world last year by resettling 725 refugees per 1 million residents.) No one can predict the future, but all of us can pray and support initiatives to address these international crises any way we can, and thank God that we have the resources to do so.

In Canada, gloom sometimes seems to hang over every horizon. We’re rightly concerned about unaffordable housing, transportation congestion, poverty, and the opioid crisis. We see accommodation for religious freedom shrinking, national debt growing, and euthanasia and abortion regarded as standard health care. Yet on Thanksgiving, we can be grateful the country is blessed with stable government, an ethical justice system, quality education and health care, and a constitution that enshrines freedom of religion, conscience, and speech, all of which empower Canadians to vote, worship, speak out, work for change, and inspire others to action.

Sadly, Thanksgiving can still be a time when countless people find it next to impossible to see a glimmer of hope anywhere. In our homes many are struggling with finances, illness, relationship breakdown, loneliness, substance abuse, and job loss. Any one of these can be devastating and occupy one’s every waking moment. How do we respond? Not only is Jesus ready to accompany those who suffer like Job, but he is calling the rest of us to be his helping hand by feeding the hungry, giving the thirsty something to drink, welcoming the stranger, and clothing the naked.

On Thanksgiving, the best way to appreciate our blessings is to be a blessing to someone else.