An article from the Cathedral Times
by the Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler
Somewhere, some time, in the twenty-four hours after you read this article, you will have at least one occasion in which to give thanks for something. I say at least one occasion. Most of us will have one occasion an hour. I dare you to give thanks for something, deliberately, intentionally, in the next twenty-four hours.
I believe God has created us for thanksgiving. Something happens to us, deep within us, when we give thanks. Somehow, wherever we are, when we give thanks, the tumult and grind of the world stops. We take a step outside ourselves. We see things differently.
Me? I give thanks for the magnificent community that is the Cathedral of St Philip, especially during these times when the world around us is tense"”worried, perhaps, still worried, about whether and when our economy might rise even a slight bit. Even in these uncertain times, the community of the Cathedral of St. Philip has been amazing.
Yes, we ourselves still have much money to be received before the end of the year. We are worried that some have had to reduce their pledges, including some of our larger givers.
But the pledges for next year have started to arrive. They are amazing. Of the first three hundred 2011 pledges we received, over one hundred of them were increases from 2010. Of course, we need those increases if we are going to be able to sustain solid ministry around here. But we need every pledge, whether increased or reduced. We need you, especially, if you have never pledged to the Cathedral before.
But, ultimately"”pledges or not, tense finances or not"”this church is about Thanksgiving. We say a Great Thanksgiving every week here. We say a Great Thanksgiving every day, at our Eucharists. When we give thanks, God really does bless us.
So I urge you"”no, I dare you!"”to give thanks in the next twenty-four hours. Give thanks for something! I guarantee that God will bless you, just as God has blessed this magnificent and holy place, the Cathedral of St. Philip!
The world comes alive when we give thanks. Maybe you had a glimpse of that reality on one special day of Thanksgiving. But I dare you to do it again. The world comes alive when we give thanks. Give thanks with me!
The Very Rev. Sam Candler