Giving Thanks

The mountain man and his 3 "mountain goats" are going backpacking for Thanksgiving. We're setting a few traditions aside as we set out on the trail for some quality time together. We are going to Hemmed In Hollow in Northwest Arkansas. We will bask together in the glories of a 200 foot waterfall and hearts that flow freely with thanksgiving.

Now the nature of a waterfall -- be it Hemmed in Hollow, The Niagra Falls, or Multnomah Falls -- is that the water falls. That is the nature of waterfalls. The water never remains where it has been. It does not flow uphill or upstream. Each surrenders itself to the forces of gravity and is in constant flow. We can talk about the conditions that contribute to the waterfalling, like the annual rainfall and snowmelt, but in the end the nature remains the same: The water falls.

In similar fashion the nature of thanksgiving is that thanks are given. As waterfalls fall so also thanks flow freely. That is the nature of thanksgiving. Thanks never remain where they have been. They do not stop or back up along the way. Thanks leap. They dance. They descend, ascend and gush forth! Thanks are alive. Like the falling water surrendering itself to the forces of gravity thanks surrender themselves to the forces of a grateful heart, a cup that overflows, and more of God's mercies than we can count or imagine. The nature of a waterfall is that the water falls, and the nature of thanksgiving is that thanks are given.

We might talk about the reasons for our thanksgiving in the same way we talk about rainfall and snowmelt. There is good health and good circumstances. There are our children and grandchildren and their successes in music and school and sports. There are our homes, the food on our table, and the clothes we enjoy. There is our nation, our freedom, and the opportunity to vote for what we desire and what we do not.

But what if we had none of these things? Could we still give thanks? Thanks are not so much a matter of what you have, but what you are giving. Thanksgiving does not ask "What do you have?" Thanksgiving asks "Are you thanful?"

Our nation is facing economic challenges and the changing of leadership. Would we still give thanks? Each of us is aging and few of us enjoy the same health we did a year ago. Would we still give thanks? Each of us has said "good bye" to those we love and seen the change and hurt in the lives of loved ones. Would we still give thanks? We cherish our children and grandchildren, but how many of us are anxious about their surroundings and the choices they sometimes make? Would we still give thanks?

1 Chronicles 16:8 encourages thansgiving as a matter of who God is and what God does. "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done."

Psalm 100:4 says that thanksgiving abounds in the presence of God. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to the Lord and call on His name."

1 Corinthians 15:57 gives cause for thanksgiving even in the midst of death. "The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Thanks are not a matter of what you have. Thanks are a matter of what you are giving. Like a water fall thanks flow freely. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continuously; give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." God's will is that we give thanks. At the feeding of the five thousand Jesus was surrounded by anxious and hungry people. He took two fish and five loaves of bread, looked to His Father in fatih, and gave thanks, John 6:11.

What if we had nothing? What if we had nothing at all -- if it were all taken from us? We would still give thanks to God for He is good and His mercy endures forever. With Job we could say, "I know that my Redeemer lives and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And even if my flesh is destroyed yet with my own eyes I will see God," Job 19:25.

Could we have more? Could we have better? We already have more than enough, more than we can count, and more than we deserve. We have what God gives and for all of it we give thanks.

I'm heading off to the Falls with my 3 little "mountain goats." We will marvel at the wonders of falling water. Where does it come from and why does it never stop? But we will marvel more at God's mercies which are new every morning, and for these we will give thanks.

I love you. Blessed thanksgiving. Jeff on the mountains.

Stillwater Project: Caring

The monthly meeting of the Stillwater Project met this last Thursday. The Stillwater Project is a "think tank" of excellent minds gathered to discuss social dynamics and concerns. The goals of the Stillwater Group is to master positive character qualities and foster them among themselves and others of the community. Past projects were focused on Respect and Responsibility. This month's focus was"Caring."

The discussion began with a presentation of "The Rule of 32." This is an exercise that puts people into the role of innitiative and caring for others. "The Rule of 32" encourages that individuals have at least 3 questions of concern for for someone else and at least 2 statements of interest if someone should ask a question of you. "The Rule of 32" insists upon interaction. Interaction is the first step of Caring for others. When we care for others we see them; we realize them; we engage them; we interact with them. "How are you?" "Where are you from?" "What do you enjoy?" are some ways to demonstrate you Care. As well, if someone asks you anything be able to respond with a comment or two that is genuine, sincere, and transparent. "I am doing great!" "I just got back from a business trip." "I enjoy my 7th grade English teacher very much!"

We then discussed people of our community who would benefit from Care. What we learned is that everyone benefits from Care -- from every child in your class, to your teacher or pastor, your coach, the checker at PriceCutter, and you name it. As well, if not moreso, the Stillwater Group specifically mentioned those who are homeless, those who are unemployed, those who are from other countries -- Africa, Mexico, and Asia, those who are in nursing homes, those who are injured or ill, someone whose parents just got divorced, someone who recently lost a loved one, and someone who is lonely. The Stillwater Project determined that if somone is walking through a lunch room looking for a place to sit what they are really looking for is someone to say, "Hey, come sit with us!" Giving someone a chair is not caring. Sitting with someone is.

The Stillwater Project then moved into parallel and companion terms of Caring. These are their conclusions:

The Stillwater Project:

Caring is --

• being loving
• being helpful and giving help to others
• showing compassion for others
• showing interests in others
• seeking to understand -- walking a mile in somone else's shoes
• being kind
• being nice
• listening
• being considerate
• being respectful
• putting the needs of others before your own

There you have it. You will recall the creditials of The Stillwater Group: They are 13 year olds at a local middle school. They are openly and earnestly discussing life changing and world changing qualities. Leave the degrees on the wall. Forget the thesis and term projects. The Stillwater Group is doing it. They are putting character education to the test and they are at the top of the class.

Here's the mountain man challenge: Sit at the feet of the Stillwater Group and see what you can learn from them. Whoever you meet, wherever you meet them, always have three questions of interest followed by two statements of your own. Look around and see who will benefit from your Caring interest. Forget the politics and religion. Forget who has and who has not earned and deserved your conditional kindness.

Care; truly care.

Thanks for the coffee and the time together. You are awesome people. I love you very much. Jeff on the mountains.