Once again we Canadians have the privilege of collectively celebrating Thanksgiving. For some of my readers, this article will arrive before the actual date, for others it will appear in print just before the holiday and for some, a few days after the actual date. Knowing that made me think of a supposed question to a child: Why do we celebrate Thanksgiving? The answer: So we know when to start Christmas shopping.
Whether or not this scenario really happened or if it was just the work of another writer or would-be comedian desperate for a good line to use doesn't really matter. True or not there's a healthy seed of truth in the exchange; too often we gloss over things of significance in order to race to the next big event on the calendar. Believe me, I know whereof I speak.
Like autumn, harvest and Thanksgiving itself, life is divided into seasons, each presenting its own series of challenges. Children and young people, convinced of the invincibility of life and the countless number of years before them, can hardly wait for adulthood to be bestowed upon them. Young families wrestle for time to meet their financial, social and parental goals. Middle age provides glimpses into the albeit still fairly remote possibility of retirement while "the golden years' bring with them the realization that if we are going to complete those long dreamed of goals, we'd better hurry up "Christmas shopping" is closer than we may care to consider.
"Blessed is the man who listens to me [wisdom], watching daily at my gates ... for whoever find me finds life." (Proverbs 8:34)
This year's Thanksgiving message to me is simple: guard the really important things of today because tomorrow will be here soon enough. Savour the essence of Thanksgiving - and that's more than just the turkey (but enjoy that, too).
