In All Circumstances

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

This is Thanksgiving week, so we join with all Americans of all faiths and no faith to give thanks. But just over a week ago we as a presbytery held a service of lament, because we are so aware of much in the world we are mourning. So, for this Thanksgiving, some of us may have some hesitation as we think of all we can give thanks for.

One thing that we did not mention last week is politics. While clearly there are many people—some, I assume, among members of our presbytery—who are celebrating Donald Trump’s election, there are many people, especially in California, who are beside themselves worrying about what this latest election means. One person, a commercial real estate broker, raised his concern in church that America might not survive, because people put the price of eggs and milk ahead of what’s best for the nation. And I just heard that Ellen DeGeneres moved permanently to England after the election.

Yesterday I heard an interesting Thanksgiving sermon, as the preacher remembered being in New York City the Sunday before Thanksgiving in 2001, two months after the World Trade Center was destroyed on September 11. He remembered attending Riverside Church, and walking around Central Park, noticing how after September 11, New Yorkers were so much more attuned to signs of God’s goodness in their beloved city—the fall colors were glorious, the people were intentional about community, their praise of God in the midst of disaster was robust.

As he preached, I thought how we do not have a disaster that unifies all of us today; the disaster we face is the very division that has reached new depths. And that division is perpetuated in our suspicion or defense of decisions the new administration is making. Obviously, I am not wishing for an event so catastrophic that it can wipe away our division, but it seems to me that we are driving ourselves to the point of despair as we worry about what might happen.

Forgive me if this is harsh, but it occurs to me that this kind of worry is a little presumptuous. I would guess that most of us are still pretty comfortable and safe, and our lives have not changed much between a month ago and now. Dare I say that even though we are not Ellen DeGeneres, we can probably sustain the increased cost of eggs and milk. Yet we are convinced that life will be terrible, that corruption will run rampant, and the earth will never survive. And that doesn’t say much for our hope that God is in charge.

When I gave my “state of the presbytery” talk at our last meeting, I quoted Jesus saying “I have conquered the world!” I can assure you that I have never repeated that quote before, because I feel that it has led to Christian triumphalism at its worst. But as I reflect on it now, Jesus did not conquer the world in the greedy, violent way we tend to think of conquest; Jesus conquered the world through his self-sacrificing love and obedience to God’s will. And God’s will is not small or convenient or non-disruptive, so we do God a disservice to limit our faith actions to avoid controversy or fundamental change. That is why some of our current efforts as a presbytery are so significant to me, because they will change history—for Christians seeking a welcoming place to worship and serve, for individuals seeking safety and intergenerational wealth for their families, for residents facing the dangers of toxic burning, and for the first people of Los Angeles seeking recognition and a place of their own where they can teach and connect with those of us who now also call Los Angeles our home.

And this is why, in spite of the many reasons I can worry, I am filled with gratitude that I can witness, and even participate in, the reflection of the kin-dom of heaven here on earth. Yesterday I was able to see three glimpses of God’s realm: in morning worship when I heard that moving sermon about life after 9/11; in the afternoon when I heard hugely inspiring testimonies from lay leaders of Interwoven; and in the evening interfaith service when Altadena people of faith—Christian, Baha`i, Muslim, Jewish—gathered to be a grateful, serving community together. How can I be anything but grateful?

So let us not worry, but trust that God who can do all things, and who cares for even the sparrow, loves us and cares for us too. Let us give thanks in all circumstances, and remember that God provides in so many ways—meeting basic needs of food and water but also by giving us love and hope and spirit and purpose. And let us show our gratitude by appreciating the gift of life, by sharing with others the hope and healing we have found, by feeding the hungry, by protecting the vulnerable. Let us love as God first loved us.

With gratitude,
Wendy