I've learned that it's especially important for those who are always trying to change the world, to remember what they are thankful for in their world as it is!
First I am thankful to God for his or her patience with us. Thankful that despite how much we human beings (perhaps especially we religious believers), so often disappoint, embarrass, and even hurt God with the things we say and do -- even in God's name; that God still continues to love us, forgive us, and call us to act more like God's children, who should live together like brothers and sisters.
I am thankful to Jesus, who seems to have survived all of us Christians who name his name. Thankful that he is still so popular all over the world, even when Christians are, well, are not so much. But I'm also thankful for when Christians or others actually do the things that Jesus said, love their neighbors and even their enemies, just as he taught us to do, and when we do treat "the least of these" in the same way that we would treat him. I'm always most thankfully surprised by the unexpected and simple acts of love, grace, kindness, welcome, and justice that make people want to believe in and follow Jesus again.
I am thankful to my country for its deepest and truest ideals, even, and especially when we so often betray them. And I am most grateful for the people that consistently challenge us to live up to the best of those values; more than those who keep telling us how exceptional we are.
I am thankful for the memories of my father and mother who taught their children the power of faith, and for all my siblings and their children who continue to try to teach each other the power of love.
I am thankful to have far more than a handful of life-long friends who have traveled this journey with me and still do.
I am profoundly thankful for the unexpected gift of family, after running for so long on my own, and for all the ways that Joy, Luke, and Jack have taught me how to enjoy the world while still trying to change it.
I am thankful for women priests and pastors, and for what they bring to the churches, and that I am married to one of the best. Thankful that my boys have seen their mom and other women being priests, once causing one of them at a young age to ask, "Can men be priests too?"
I am so very thankful for two healthy and happy boys, who love their schools, love their sports, and mostly love their family. And for the fact that they always love to have other people around our table, in our guest room, or over for a "play date" or, now, to just "hang out" with our 13 year old. I'm thankful that our house is the clubhouse for the teams and classes they are such a big part of. And I'm grateful that their Mom, Joy Carroll, just loves to throw a party for almost any occasion.
I love the way Jack loves to read, to write, and to imagine the most amazing stories, scenarios, and possibilities. And I love the way he makes us all laugh all the time. (In a recent conflict over baseball and church he said, "Dad, don't get me wrong, I really do appreciate God, it's just church that is boring.")
I'm thankful that Luke is on both the baseball team and the debate team and reminds me "Dad, I know how you feel about all these debate topics and, of course, I agree with your position, but I have to learn both sides." I also am thankful for his characteristic empathy and that he doesn't tolerate bullies.
And I am thankful for baseball and all the joy it brings our family. I'm thankful that my boys can never get enough of it, and for how much Joy and I love to watch them both play. Thankful for this summer's Little League World Series Tournament and how far Luke's team got in what became an experience of a life-time. Thankful too for getting to coach both of my boys, for the strong father/son bond that being their Little League coach has created, and for all the other important relationships with kids and parents that baseball has brought to into our lives. I'm very thankful to walk into our family room full of boys, say "Hi Guys," and hear back "Hi Dad" and "Hi Coach." And finally, I am thankful for the baseball field we live right door next to, where we play so many of our games, and where I am "Coach Jim" more than I am Jim Wallis.
I am thankful for my colleagues and co-collaborators at Sojourners who make more of a difference per capita than any small group of people in the world.
And I'm thankful for all the local pastors and leaders I meet, all over the country and the world, who are doing such great things, and often humbled and grateful when they tell me that they were "inspired by Sojourners."
I am thankful for a new generation of young Christians, Jews, Muslims, and more who want their faith and their lives to make a difference in the world.
I am thankful for Desmond Tutu's 80th birthday, and Billy Graham's 92rd. And thankful for the legacy and mentoring of Dorothy Day and Martin Luther King Jr., who still sit on each of my shoulders whispering in my ears.
I am thankful that Gordon Cosby, founder of the Church of the Savior, regularly prays for me.
I am thankful for the Arab Spring and hopeful that it will blossom into democracy in more and more places.
I am thankful for the Occupy Movement and the young protestors against inequality who have sprung up to articulate the discontents and hopes of the world.
I am thankful for the Circle of Protection that has united Christians across all the boundaries around the poor and vulnerable, and reminds policy makers that a budget is a moral document.
I am thankful for Block Island where my family and our friends rest and play.
I am thankful for the houses of worship all over the world where I come to pray.
And always, I am thankful for a great full course turkey dinner with lots of people around the table -- all remembering who and what they are thankful for. What a great holiday; a time to be thankful.
Jim Wallis is the author of Rediscovering Values: A Guide for Economic and Moral Recovery, and CEO of Sojourners. He blogs at www.godspolitics.com. Follow Jim on Twitter @JimWallis.
Follow Jim Wallis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jimwallis
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Also, give Christians a break; we are not perfect people and thanks to 'Christians leaders for social change" many have become confused. We don't need any social gospels or folks trying to change the minds of others. The Gospel is about the individual coming to understand that s/he must change; only in that way will the world in 1/9,000,000,000 will change for the positive.
When I see a "Christian leader" for “social change”, I cannot help but think of a person; (I’m more than suspicious) hiding behind the name of Jesus but wants to promote:
1. Liberalism
2. Biblical compromise
3. Aletrnative roads to God
4. Tolerance for repentance
5. Beguilement in order to disseminate “gray area” issues concerning “black and white” issues.
It also seems that while he wasn't a "Christian" leader, Jesus also advocated for the poor, the sick, and the disenfranchised to the extent that those in power felt so threatened by his "social change" message that they had him executed.
I'm puzzled about the inclusion of "tolerance for repentence" on your list. Are you saying that we shouldn't repent? Or that that there isn't forgiveness?
My point about tolerance v repentance is this: tolerance is man's way of trying to BS God. Only faith and repentance will please God. Liberal theologians and "christian churches" are setting their followers up for the Lake of fire. Forgiveness is a person to person thing that is required by God in the salvation process.
One visible paradox of our American society will be experienced by millions across our great nation in the next several hours. Most of us this early to mid-afternoon sat at tables fit for kings to eat meals with a very specific menu, one reserved for a day set aside for national reflection and our desire express our thankfulness for our provisions this day and throughout the year.
Once the meal was completely over, the plates were replaced with colorful advertisements from local retailers and national chains full of items on sale with store doors opening as early as midnight, others five am. From the other side of the room I listened as voices filled with excitement began to plan the best means of transport to and from each store with the list of top money saving deals, best prices all year!
That moment we consumed the feast they mapped out the strategy to take consumerism to the next level, thankful now for the prices no doubt. However, I couldn't help being convicted that soon after the national thanksgiving meal, it appears like greed took over, how much can we get for how little! This is America!
Now we all know that in our current economical crisis, retailers need us to be greedy tonight and tomorrow, so let's go America, let's go do what we do best, consumers go forth, trust no one will be hurt, have a turkey sandwich upon your return while boasting of the super deals!
Kindest regards
Martha Jennings
Oh man, that is too funny. Your idea of god really is a Barney cut out.
The one true thing you said was about America often not living up to its ideals. Good on you. For the rest, you must remember that you are a devotee of a religion that is opposed to human freedom in almost all its aspects.
You would do better to leave this dogma behind and just get into the world w your big heart and put your shoulder to the wheel. You don't need the myth of the carpenter to be a saint or a hero.
In a similar vein, it is important to remember the things we agree on, and not just the things we disagree about. Losing friends over differences of opinion about politics is not a wise thing to do, in my opinion. We have more in common with most of our neighbors, no matter what their background, than we have differences, and it just makes sense to be friendly and polite to one another, if at all possible.
Jaknik: This is the "personal" God decribed by Einstein (and others) as a childish notion. And look how Mr. Wallis makes God almost, if not, a person. Just think, God can be embarrarssed, God can be disappointed, even hurt by his "children". If so, then God can cry, God can be depressed, estatic, worried, fearful, angry (The Bible displays that, for sure), etc., i.e. God is human.
In man's image, God is made.
I am thankful for disbelievers so I can share the certainty that God is, the Creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them all.
There is more in this universe than we can ever understand, though I intend to keep on trying, and I have no intention of either publicly denying or affirming things that I cannot publicly prove. There are doubtless intelligences greater than our own, and it is possible that one or more of those intelligences is involved in our evolution. Many of the things I have experienced in this life cannot be explained in a scientific method, and so I reserve the right to think that many things exist that I cannot prove.
---a Jewish thanksgiving prayer
These days with people shouting at each other, we all need to slow down and take a large dose of humility. Life is a fragile thing, and we should respect it.
I am very thankful for the wildlife and nature around me that makes me happy.
God's works are wonderful and beautiful.
Too bad mankind spoils it so much.