Musings: Notes From My Daybook

Tonight my family and I will gather with other members of our congregation for a Thanksgiving meal with residents at Decatur Christian Towers. The Towers is home to almost 300 senior citizens and for whom an opportunity to meet and be with others is a special time indeed.

In addition to a meal together, we will sing a few songs and I will offer a brief message. Frankly, I usually think that it is the many residents that should teach me a few things. War veterans, survivors of cancer, people who have been married to one spouse for 57 years, world travelers, and much more set there in rows interspersed with young families and teenagers. What do I have to offer about practicing gratitude that they haven't already tried?

Of course, I know that my job isn't about coming up with something new. That is one thing I learned some years ago. Preaching is not about coming up with some new twist or some catchy phrase calculated to stir somebody into action. Preaching is about telling the story--truthfully and in a way that the story is heard.

So, I guess it is back to the basics tonight. A few reminders about being grateful. Starting with God's gracious love toward us it should be too hard to come up with something to say.

Got to go. I think it's time to be grateful for a piece of pumpkin pie!