Dear Resurrection Friends,

Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between church-goers and dogs.

 I should explain that last week there were 15 dogs in church for our St. Francis Blessing of the Animals (+ 2 fish and a toad). Sometimes we’re like dogs because we’ve been trained to respond in certain ways without even thinking about it. Tell a dog to sit, give them a treat and you’ve made a friend for life.

 Unfortunately, sometimes we treat our relationship with God the same way. We figure that if we sit when we’re told or don’t mess on the carpet (metaphorically speaking) that we’ll get our reward in heaven. But does God really care whether or not we’re ‘house-broken’ or that God’s house is filled with mercy, love, and compassion?

 Now, obviously I don’t think we’re like dogs or that God wants us as ‘pets.’ But there is lots we could learn from their attitude of joy and gratitude for our daily faith. Whenever we walk in the door, our pets greet us with wet kisses and a wagging tail. Why? What have we done? All we did was come home and they’re excited to see us again. What would that look like in our relationship with God?

 Sometimes in church, it’s seems as though we’ve been trained like dogs. For example, if someone says, “Hear what the Spirit is saying to God’s people,” at the end of scripture reading the immediate response is, “Thanks be to God.” We don’t even think about it. But sometimes I’m not thankful for what we just heard. Sometimes the Word of God is challenging and disturbing. What can we say then?

 Thanksgiving is an opportunity to examine our automatic response, “Thanks be to God.”

 Are we comfortable saying it with a question mark at the end? Can we say it while life is   hard for so many good people? Or when there are children and families who go without food, while others have so much it makes them sick? Are we able to say thanks when we don’t understand all the reasons for some things?

 Do we only say thanks when God gives us some kind of treat? Or just because God has walked in the door of our lives? When does our thanks spring from our lips as an authentic response from the depths of our hearts? And what would it be like to live a life full of thankfulness?

 I’m grateful that we’ve got a holiday like Thanksgiving to pause and reflect and learn new patterns of living. I’m grateful for the lessons of animals. And I’m grateful for a community where I can say with conviction, “thanks be to God.”

Peace, Love and Blessings,

Stephen Murray