The View From Here

This is the view from our front door today. It's a street in a town where not that much happens. The most exciting thing to happen in our street lately is that the ditches have been filled in and proper drainage has been installed.

Sometimes we complain, or hear complaints, that there's not a lot going on around here. To some extent that's true (maybe a Second Cup or Starbucks, or a decent bookstore would help), but there is plenty to do if you look hard enough. When I look at today's headlines: 'More than 60 dead in wave of Chechen attacks', 'Big aftershock rattles quake survivors, rescuers', 'Teachers union leader refuses to back down despite threat of huge court fines', and there are many others, then I am glad that I do live in a place where it seems that nothing much happens.

We just celebrated Thanksgiving last weekend and I think that there are times when we take so much for granted that giving thanks to God becomes something do without really thinking about it. One of the things we thought about in church last week was that it is easy for us to give thanks because we have an abundance, but would we still be as thankful if all that we have now was taken away from us? It may never happen, but it is worth thinking about.

I am thankful for living in a place where my kids can play safely enough (except for the odd bear that passes through), where neighbours look out for each other. But I'm more thankful for all that God has done for me - his love, his grace, his forgiveness, the sacrifice of his Son, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the list could go on and on and on....

Give Thanks!