Time For Some Annual Thank Yous

Welcome to the Little Church of Muchos Gracias

I’ve always been a bit leery when it comes to organized religion. Part of that comes from my very disorganized nature. I like not knowing where I’ll be and what I’ll be doing on Sunday morning. Part of it is that I’m more interested in the questions of life than being around people who think they already know the answers. In my system of beliefs, one of the biggest sins you can commit is the hubris that comes from thinking that you can know God’s mind or speak for him or her. Too many people speaking for organized religion these days seem to claim a monopoly on answers to questions that I feel are just plain unknowable.

But just because I’m not a season ticket holder in the very front pew does not mean I don’t give thanks on a regular basis. In fact, giving thanks is the basis for my own personal unorganized religion. It goes something like this: I try to silently give thanks 25 times a day.

Makin’ a thank you list and checkin’ it twice. Be sure to get in the holiday spirit this weekend by watching It’s A Wonderful Life starring (l-r) Larry Simms, James Stewart and Donna Reed as Peter, George and Mary Bailey.

Now, who or what I’m giving thanks to is one of the big mysteries of my little church with its congregation of one. You can call it God, Mother Nature, Zeus, Allah, Buddha, Life, Love, Jesus, the Creator of Intelligent Design, the Creator of Not-So-Intelligent Design, Mr. Big Bang, the Big Kahuna or anything else you like. I don’t think it really matters. The point is to give thanks for the blessings that you receive on a daily basis. The “25 times” thing is my own arbitrary number.

Even at your lowest low, if you think hard enough you will be able to come up with 25 things to give thanks for every day and I guarantee you it will make you a happier and more positive person.

As we approach Thanksgiving, here are some of the things I am giving thanks for:

I am thankful that I rediscovered and married the love of my life in 2005. Thank you, Leslie, for sharing this grand adventure with me. I am thankful that most of my friends and family are fine and in good health. For the ones who are not in good health, I am thankful for every day that I get to spend with them. For friends of mine who passed away during the past year, I am thankful that I had the privilege of getting to know them while they were here. I am thankful for the privilege of preserving their memory while I am still here.

I am thankful to live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. I am thankful that it rained buckets last night after about 30 straight days of dry weather. I am thankful that those dry days gave us one of the prettiest autumns that I can remember. I am thankful that as the weather gets colder, I have a safe, secure and warm place to live.

I am thankful that I will be able to spend Thanksgiving with people that I love. I am thankful that I am not allergic to any of the delicious traditional Thanksgiving foods, especially deviled eggs. I am thankful that I will soon be eating Thanksgiving leftovers such as cold turkey sandwiches on wheat bread with stuffing, cranberry sauce and provolone cheese (I call it “the Pilgrim,” you should try it). Thanks again for the annual Thanksgiving television broadcast of It’s A Wonderful Life, one of the most life-affirming movies ever made.

I am thankful that I got to see the Pacific Ocean this year after over 30 years of being an Atlantic Ocean kind of guy. I’m thankful for the distinctly Southern cheerfulness of most of the bank tellers, cashiers, waitresses and sales people that I deal with in the High Country. I am thankful that the Tar Heels won the NCAA Basketball Championship this year. I am thankful that college basketball season is back, even though the Heels aren’t very good this year and will probably lose to Duke at least twice. I am thankful that my niece Eliza is six, a great age to be discovering the wonders of the world in general and of first grade in particular. I am thankful she goes to school in Watauga County where—in the words of Garrison Keillor—all of the kids are above average.

I am thankful for all of the United States military men and women serving us overseas. I give thanks to every one of them who made it back home safe and sound this year and I extend my thanks and condolences to the families of the more than 2,000 who did not survive the War in Iraq. I give thanks to anyone who has spoken up in an effort to bring all of our military personnel back home in a timely manner.

I am thankful that I have a job I love. I am thankful to be working with some of the nicest, most creative people in the High Country. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to write my Sweet Tea with Lemon column and touch on subjects outside of my normal area of expertise (whatever that is). I am thankful for every Mountain Times reader, especially those who have taken the time to write or call and tell me when they agree or disagree with something I’ve put forth in this column. You guys are the best!

Now go get some turkey (or Tofurkey, if you choose) and have a great Thanksgiving weekend!