As we approach Thanksgiving next week, the holiday will look unlike anything most of us have ever encountered. For the first time in my lifetime, we have elected public officials strongly discouraging family gatherings to celebrate Thanksgiving. At this point, it is likely we\u2019ll hear the same thing next month as we approach Christmas.<\/p>\n
In New Mexico, we are currently under \u201cshelter-in-place\u201d orders, with all but essential businesses unable to operate until Monday, Nov. 30 (Thankfully, churches can meet at 25% capacity, or with 75 people in attendance, whichever is smaller). We are being actively discouraged from meeting with people outside of our own households, including extended family. Suffice it so say that Thanksgiving for many of us around the country is going to look very different from \u201cnormal.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, pastor, how do you approach Thanksgiving when many of your people may still feel uncomfortable gathering with a group of people, even in church? How can you encourage people who have already had a rough year to remain thankful even when they realize the kids and grandkids won\u2019t be coming home for the holidays?<\/p>\n
How can you fight off the holiday humdrums that seem to affect so many people this time of year?<\/p>\n
Remind yourself \u2013 and your people \u2013 to count your blessings.<\/strong><\/p>\n I know this sounds clich\u00e9, but this year it may be more important than ever to take stock of the blessings God has given us. Given the enormous health challenges the entire world has faced this year, it might be a good thing to remind your people (and yourself), that to just be alive is a blessing. The fact that we live in a world with technology like Zoom and Facetime is pretty amazing and has been a huge blessing over the past year (as sick as we are of only seeing people from the neck up on screen)! Be thankful for the neighbors and family God has blessed you with. Indeed, God has been good to us!<\/p>\n Remind yourself \u2013 and your people \u2013 that this is only temporary.<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the things I\u2019ve repeated to my children over the past eight months is that it won\u2019t be like this forever. I firmly believe we eventually will get back to some semblance of \u201cnormal.\u201d Much like after 9\/11, there may be a \u201cnew normal,\u201d but eventually we will settle into a new routine. And, at this point at least, I still think we aren\u2019t looking at masks and social distancing as permanent fixtures in our society. There are great hopes of a vaccine and effective treatments that look like they\u2019re coming in 2021. So, pastor, hang on and encourage your people to hang on. While you might stop short of making hard and fast statements about what \u201cnormal\u201d might look like, you still can remind your folks that so much of what we\u2019re seeing right now is temporary \u2013 even if it doesn\u2019t feel like it.<\/p>\n