Thanksgivingesque

At thanksgiving dinner a friend asked everyone to share the one thing that they were most thankful for. I gave a true, but incomplete response: having a true peer group. As I pondered on this question for several days, I came to an interesting conclusion -- the things that I am most grateful for are not things at all. People and relationships are the most important elements of my life. This past year I have experienced tremendous growth that is only possible in light of a peer group that I trust.
At the risk of leaving someone out, I will attempt to make a list of gifts my friends have given me.

• Bill and Cindy: Bill taught me confidence and grace. Cindy taught me hospitality, maturity, and modeled womanhood beautifully.
• Joe challenges my intellect and keeps me sharp. He preaches Christ and believes what he says.
• Tab reminds me to be gentle. She has loved me for a long time for no particular reason. We are family.
• Jody is a man of great depth and few words, and in that I find great security.
• Beth is a daily blessing. Her number is on speed dial for venting and random observations. She continuously shares her home and family with me.
  
• Charles cracks me up. We are kindred spirits and have a shared sense of humor (or lack thereof). I invade his home and spend more time with his wife than he does. Yet, he still seems glad to see me (or maybe he fakes it -- but I feel welcome either way).
• Mary Ann brings joy in many ways, but this year, after a particularly vulnerable moment, wrote me a note affirming me and our friendship. Being as this is a public space, I'll skip the details, but her affirmation was a treasured gift.
• Julio ... what more can I say. I am grateful for our weird relationship and all that it entails.
• Emily and John are precious humans who embody peace and fun. They matter to me and so many others,
• Linda is so damn frank that she can push others away, but not me. She has spoken so much truth to me in her sarcastic, over the top manner and for that I am appreciative.
• Renee and Dondi model authenticity and give me space to roam. Thank you.
  

Thanks for indulging me in a list that barely touches on the difference people have made in my life. As advent approaches, I pray that the spirit of thanksgiving will remain. It has been good for me take inventory of the gifts I have already received this year (but I will still be accepting beautifully wrapped gifts though out the season hint, hint)

Joe says that its time for me to write a new post. And just for the record, Joe is always right. The good news is that I use this blog as a tool for processing the things that keep me awake at night -- and I have been sleeping well.

However, today someone asked me, "How do you keep from being disillusioned and cynical?" Well, first of all, I'm not sure that I do. But he pressed further, looking for the source of my hopefulness.

Through that conversation I recognized a couple key elements of my life:

• Somehow, I made it this far in life with the belief that I matter and that I really can change the world. Egotistical? probably.
• A peer group of well-read and engaged friends keeps me sharp. They provide a safe space for my cynicism and push back enough to keep me humble (well, relatively).
• In my post-evangelical era, I rarely talk about "calling". However, from a very early age, I have been away of the presence of god in my life and of my need to respond to that call through service. The shape of that service may shift, but the calling remains. Outside of professional ministry, I have the opportunity and responsibility to minister to folks who see no relevance in the organized church. I may struggle with finding the right language for my faith, but I have no trouble identifying the right actions.
  

So what? I still believe that a few individuals can start a movement and that movements change the world. I believe that refusing to vote or failing to educate myself on matters of importance would be a rejection of my calling.

How do you describe the aspects of life that drive you? Is a calling or hobby? What role does faith play? What drives your level of civic engagement?


Whoever I am, I am thine, Oh Lord.