A New Tradition

This time of the year, with Halloween behind us, we look forward to…Black Friday. Yes, Black Friday. We have barely finished remembering the saints until we’re busy searching the flyers for the bargains we must have as we shop for Christmas.

I understand the phenomenon, though personally I never, ever shop on or near Black Friday. I made myself a pledge long ago to celebrate one holiday at a time. That means with most of the Halloween candy eaten or handed out, I’m turning my mind to…yes, really…Thanksgiving.

I wrote recently how the meaning and purpose of All Hallows’ Eve had been taken over with witches and goblins—a pagan focus. As a country on the whole, we rarely give a moment to the actual meaning. I’m thankful for a Church that believes liturgy, ritual and tradition are important because we at least set aside a worship service to remember, even if briefly.

Thanksgiving may be the second least properly celebrated holiday on our calendar. As Thanksgiving approaches, we join in a frenzy of menu planning, Christmas shopping, gathering dead pine cones and leaves for decorating and…most important for many…the Big Games. Yes, many will over eat, over drink, and then plop down in front of a TV to watch football. Few will actually attend a worship service that day. I’m really not opposed to any of this. IF. There is a big IF. Since most expressions of thankfulness will be contained in a very short prayer over an abundant table, I think that’s not enough.

So, here’s why I’m writing about it early. I’d like you and your family to each pledge to begin today to list two things or people for whom you’re truly thankful and do that every day from now until Thanksgiving day. When the family gathers at the table, whether it’s only you, only you two, or a houseful, ask each person to read two or three things from their list. It won’t take long and the real purpose isn’t about sharing the items on the list anyway. The real purpose is about stopping to think about the many blessings all of us have. Yes. Even those ravaged by Sandy. Yes. Even those who will be eating donated turkey. We all have things for which to be thankful, if we’ll only stop and think.

BTW, the name Black Friday derives from retailers’ assertion that sales on and around this day, pull them out of the red ink of deficit, into the black ink of profit.  Something for which they can thank us.

Peace, Jerry