Thanksgiving
"O give thanks to the Lord, for God is good; the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever."
Psalm 107:1
The day after Thanksgiving is here. Throughout the week, we've focused on giving thanks and praise to God and to others. It is good to remember that hearty thanks and praise should always include a horizontal and a vertical dimension. The above verse from Psalm 107 is an excellent example of the vertical dimension of praise. Sadly, sometimes our thanks and praise never includes a vertical dimension. Thomas Merton wrote in Praying the Psalms this observation:
"Praise is cheap today. Everything is praised.
Soap, beer, toothpaste, …movie stars, the latest gadgets
...everything is constantly being praised.
And, since everything is praised with the
official hollow enthusiasm of a radio announcer,
it turns out in the end that nothing is praised. "
Merton made this observation 50 years ago. It appears we are having trouble getting the picture. True and lasting praise needs both dimensions. As we move away from our day set aside for thanksgiving and praise, we will move toward the various sacred holidays of faith-filled people. May you find opportunities to extend your praise and thanks both horizontally and vertically.
A prayer: For family, friends, all things that surround us, and for your steadfast love we are grateful, O great and mighty God. Amen.
Ben Keckler 11.23.07
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