Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gazeSunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears.  (Fiddler on the Roof)

I grew up watching the sun rise and set.  My bedroom window faced east, so every morning I was greeted with sunlight shining into my room, beckoning me to begin the day.

It was a rare evening when my parents didn’t call out to us children – busy with games, TV, and homework – to say, “Come and look at the sunset!”  Our picture window provided us with a panoramic view over the western rolling hills.  As the sun slipped away, it painted a rainbow of colors in the sky, reflected in the glowing clouds.

Sunrise and sunset remind me of the beauty of God’s creation. Each day offers the promise of new beginnings and an opportunity to begin again.  Each evening brings the comfort of God’s presence in the night.

I am so glad my parents reminded us to pause –really stop and notice – the beauty outside our windows.

I give thanks for the beautiful rhythm of sunrise and sunset.

What are you thankful for today?

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: 

 If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!   Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

I get to see my best friend today.  Patti and I live over 600 miles apart, we both work full time and have families, so getting together can be challenging. But seeing each other – in person, not just texts or emails or Facetime – is a priority.  So today I’m getting on a plane. And even more delightful – over the weekend we will lead a retreat together, which I’m sure will bring back shared memories of Sunday School, junior choir, and church youth group from long ago.

Friends are a precious treasure in life. I like this quote –

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.
When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

Some people enrich our lives for a short time, others are there forever. I think of so many people whose wisdom, support, love, and laughter have changed my life forever.

I give thanks for friends.

What are you thankful for today?

Eternal God, by the death of Jesus Christ our fear of death is lessened, with Christ’s time in the tomb, we know you have sanctified the resting places of your loved ones, and with Christ’s glorious resurrection you have brought life and immortality to light.  UCC Book of Worship

Who likes graveyards?

As a minister, I imagine I spend more time in cemeteries than the average person. I even have a view of the village graveyard from my office.

I appreciate the beauty of a well-maintained burial ground

I cherish the silence.

I value the stories contained on the stones.

I trust that those who have gone before and those who remain behind are safe in God’s care.

This is one of my favorite benedictions:

Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us. 

Therefore be swift to love and make haste to be kind. 

The blessing of God,

who made us,

who loves us,

and who travels with us

be with you now and forever.

– Henri Frederic Amiel (1821-1881)

I give thanks for the reminder that life is short and precious.

What are you thankful for today?

“You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it…you provide the people with grain. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with richness. The …meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for you.”     Psalm 65   

I am blessed to live in a beautiful area, surrounded by dairy farms, apple orchards, rolling fields lined with stone walls, and literal green pastures with still waters. The views all around me restore my soul. I am indebted to the people who make that beauty possible – the farmers.

Even as I sometimes grumble when my alarm rouses me at 5:00 a.m., I remember that it is the middle of the day for the dairy farmers who got up in the dark to milk the cows.

On bitter cold days when snow and frigid breezes are howling past my window, I delight in sitting comfortably on my couch enjoying a cup of cocoa. The farmer doesn’t have that option, but must tend to chores that never stop, despite wind and weather.

The farmers I know display a hearty work ethic, an appreciation for the revolving seasons, gratitude for their families, and an ability to cope with whatever mishaps and challenges come their way.  I admire their way of life and am grateful that I benefit from their labors in so many ways.

I give thanks for the beauty of farms and the hard work of farmers.

What are you thankful for today?

Many thanks to  Chrissy Peckham Photography for the beautiful photos!

God is great, God is good, let us thank him for our food.”   

Meal times are important.  It doesn’t matter if it’s pizza or a carefully crafted meal, or whether we are seated at neatly set table or crowded on a blanket outside for a picnic, the simple act of sharing a meal with friends or family is a blessing. We often have candles on our table – my mother taught me that even hot dogs taste better by candlelight – and that gives any meal a festive feeling.

It takes some time and intention to actually prepare a place to eat. By the end of the day our table is usually well hidden – buried in a landscape of newspapers, bills, homework assignments, and sometimes even a cat that has made itself comfortable. The act of setting the table conveys the message that it is time to pause, even briefly, and enjoy one another’s company.

We say grace before supper. When the children were little, each one would take a turn on an assigned night. On Sundays we sing the Doxology (“Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”) together. Mealtime is an invitation to talk, listen, and be nourished in body and spirit.

I give thanks for breaking bread together.

What are you thankful for today?