In this edit of "The Large and Small of it All", I will try to explain how my small town upbringing has been part of the fabric of the country as a whole, and the result is the large results we enjoy.
As many of you know, I was raised in a small town in NE Indiana. It was a town of only a few hundred but there were 7 churches within a mile of my house. Every Sunday they were full, and at 10:00 am every Sunday the church bells rang out. All the businesses in town were closed and it was truly a day of rest and recreation. There were no Little League games or practices on Sunday. It was just a family day.
As I grew, the town grew. A new supermarket arrived and with it limited Sunday hours. 9-5. They came a gas station/convenience store with 24 hour 7 day opening. While handy, these were just chinks in the day of rest. Communities around us grew much faster and with it came a hurried pace of life. The Wal-Mart's, K-Mart's, and the lot were sprouting up everywhere. This ate into Sunday and with it Sunday services. Not that you could not do both, but it is much easier to think of yourself and shop for yourself instead of going to church and volunteering to help others.
Now just a generation removed from those times, churches in the small towns struggle, the seven that were near my home all are here, but now many of them have less than 30 people in the seats each Sunday. More people go through the supermarket in an hour than go through the doors of a church in my area. Little League practitces and plays make up games on Sunday. Stores are not 24-7, and many in our family work Saturday and Sunday. The hurried pace places a strain on family and the time to recharge and gain focus.
This country was founded by people fleeing religious persecution, and I certainly wish everyone the right to worship as they see fit. The problem comes when no one worships, and everyone seeks "earthly pleasures." I am currently taking some time to organize my life, get my priorities in order and reengage with all my heart. So truthfully right now I am no better than anyone else. And for that matter, I am no better than anyone else ever. I just have a gift to express myself, even if no one reads it. :)
So now on to the seasons. This year, I watched as the commercialization and growth of Halloween took it's next steps. Starting in August, I saw aisles and aisles of decorations, lights, costumes and candy. I think there is more emphasis retail wise on this "holiday" than at any other time than Christmas. What happened to the "Trick or Treat for Unicef" and other fun things for others.
Now it is Thanksgiving time, a non commercial holiday so to speak, except for a time to gather family together enjoy a meal and give thanks. Even this holiday has given in to football, shopping and more. It is kind of like a feast before the shopping... Very sad.
Starting on the 25th of November, the "Happy Holidays" as they are now called, will be in full swing. Every year the birth of Jesus becomes less the reason and more of a story. Santa and the elves are front and center. Again a sad commentary on our moral fiber as a society. I saw many a facebook update that saw people decorating and putting up their trees the weekend before Thanksgiving. Would have never happened when I was a kid.
So, now I will give all the reasons for my seasons.. and I will begin with my faith. God is good and all the time. Jesus is the Son of God and I am thankful he gave his life so that I can be forgiven. I can say with all honesty that my relationship with God needs work and an allot of it. I know God is up to the task, I hope that I am.
I am thankful for my wife and children. I could not ask for more. My son and daughter are becoming responsible adults, even thought it took some serious prodding along the way to get them there. Many people relinquish their responsibility as parents in order to be their kids' friends, but what they really need are authority figures to guide them, not b.f.f.'s. As for my wife, she has been the most supportive life partner God could have ever given me. She does for others without asking for herself, she is dedicated to her family and most of all after 25+ years of marriage, I love her more now than when we got married.
I am thankful that God allows me to make a living doing something that I enjoy and that even after all my sins and ups and downs, He still cares for me, even when I do not deserve it.
I am thankful that my kids are going to get a chance to go to college. All thanks to my mother-in-law. A very sweet woman who left this earth too soon. I am thankful that my parents are still able to do much of what they want to do and are still with us as they are near the age of 80. I struggle sometimes with their troubles, but know that I owe them more than I can ever repay.
And so as not to bore any of you more, I will wrap this up by saying that I am thankful to be living in a country that is free, that I can express my voice on this forum and despite our differences still has the ability to become more than than the sum of our parts.
I sincerely hope that where ever you find yourselves on this season that you take the time to speak with God, thank him for all he has given you and ask him to heal the wounds that all of us inflict on each other daily. Ask for wisdom, compassion, and most of all expect nothing, but feel grateful for everything.
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