Beloved,

Do you ever have the best conversations in the car? Driving home from youth group on Sunday, our oldest and I talked about Thanksgiving. “It’s the worst holiday.”

So much for the macaroni and cheese I thought.

“No, don’t get me wrong. It’s the whole colonized part, not the family part.”

They are so smart I thought. I’ve been struggling with this holiday for years and there it was!

A couple weeks ago after a Sunday service as we turned off the lights in the sanctuary, Rev. Emilie turned to me, and we both were thinking the same thing. It felt astoundingly beautiful and good to be in the sanctuary again with people…with many of you, Beloved. And the technology for the virtual service had worked. It wasn’t a perfect day, but it was beautiful.

That’s when Rev. Emilie said, “you don’t take things for granted anymore.”

I nodded yes.

Many of you are traveling to see friends and families, or perhaps cooking up long cherished recipes for the first time in nearly two years. Some of you will be alone perhaps. The holiday will not be perfect. It calls forth the bittersweet memories of longing for who is not there, or the dreams of a different kind of holiday.

And it is filled with open doors to a new tradition, or a renewed gratitude. Whether hosting with Summit Warm Hearts, preparing a meal for our neighbors or supporting Neighborhood Beacon. There are many moments to extend the blessing of not-for-granted.

Our ability to taste the morning’s coffee, the health of a beloved, the sound of the dog snoring against the rush of cars outside. Whatever is your not-for-granted, I wish you a tender moment of presence there…the worthwhile part of Thanksgiving.

With you in the not-for-granted,

Reverends Emilie and Robin and Dr. Tuli