Speaking in the Light – 11-25

I know that this is the time of the year that most individuals are compiling their lists to inform others of all the stuff that they hope to see under their tree in about a month, but I don’t want to skip over what I think has in the last few years become my favorite day of the year, Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving is the gem nestled in the middle of the autumn that has for the most part escaped the fingerprints of commercialism. It is a day that is spent with family and friends and includes lots of feasting and football but most of all for me, it is a time for my faith.
It is a chance for me to open up my heart and pour out my gratitude to my heavenly Father for all the good gifts that I know I don’t deserve but I have definitely come to cherish and appreciate. And so in honor of the occasion, and to allow my heart a chance to spout off, here is my 2009 Thanksgiving List from A TO Z!
My 2009 Thanksgiving List: I thank you lord for:
Apples: I am addicted to this fruit! I probably eat about four apples a day! I love those honey crisp and now I have my own tree outside my house.
Baseball: My Amazing Mets fell apart this year, but to me the game is still a thing of beauty. Baseball has been a very precious gift to me.
Children: I love my kids… Rudy, Leah, Abbie and Joel and my soon to be daughter-in-law Lindsay. I am so proud of them all!
Dreams: I am one who dreams every night and they give me a chance to see my Dad again who went to heaven back in 2000…They also give me glimpses of the miraculous adventures still to come!
Embraces: I have come to discover that right next to words of affirmation, touch is my second most important way to say “I Love You.” I have also recognized that since life is so short anyway, I want to hug a little longer those I care about, just because I can.
Facebook: This little online community tool has been an instrument of reunion with so many wonderful friends and family, classmates and old neighbors who I mourned over losing touch with. I can’t even put into words how excited I get everyday to see updates and pictures and perhaps another blast from the past person reintroduced into my present. Reunited and it feels so good.
God: I am still here because of the love of God and His making it very clear that He still has a purpose for me no matter who, what or where I am. I love you Lord and I wouldn’t last a day without You.
Home: I am a homebody and I am not ashamed to say I love hanging out there. There is no place like home and I’m very grateful to have one.
Indians: Believe it or not, God has given me a heart and an appreciation for our Native American friends who have suffered so much and yet remain proud and true to their heritage and history.
Jesus: Jesus and me, that’s the way I always want it to be because when I say forever — He’s the One I’m thinking of…Jesus and me, we’ll be together for eternity resting everyday in the fullness of His love.
Keepsakes: I am a sentimental romantic who saves more things just because they remind me of special times with special people… I was told a long time ago that if you can’t tell a story about it, you should throw it out…Guess I can tell lots of stories.
Long awaited new church home: Check it out on Route 9. Need I say more? Can’t wait to see what God is going to do there.
Music: Rock, country, ballads, jazz, classical, sacred, oldies but goodies. My heart is a juke box and my mind a catalogue of song after song. Thank you Lord for the music that always plays in me and through me.
Nebraska: This year it was so nice to finally return to Omaha and get to spend significant time with my old friends Maygon and her family, Georgette and Sjon and Isabelle and Dana.
Ohio: I got to reunite with many of my Ohio friends on Facebook this year but I know very soon I will get to see them in person. Don’t give up on me Vickie and Erin.
Pictures: I finally learned how to use a digital camera that my wife gave me over three years ago and I took more photographs than I ever have before. Many memories.
Quiet times: I am not as afraid of silence as I once was… I am a recovering Type A People Pleasing Perfectionist who is seeing the beauty in not having to be in a hurry all the time…Slowing down has saved my life.
Russia: I got to go to Russia for the first time back in March and was able to be reunited with my old friends Diane and Lance and Blythe and Donnie Mason who are now missionaries there. It has also opened up doors to future ministry there.
Sold-out concerts: This year alone I got to see Bruce Springsteen at The Spectrum, Barry Manilow at the PNC Arts Center, Paul McCartney at Citi Field and Earth Wind and Fire and Chicago in AC! Rock on!
T-Ball Team: I came out of retirement to coach my son Joel’s baseball team and it was an blast! Those kids were more fun than I bargained for and I loved it and can’t wait to do it again next year.
Unconditional love: The greatest present anyone can truly be given is to know that they are genuinely loved… When you are loved, there is no one you can’t be, nowhere you can’t go and nothing you can’t do. The greatest of these is unconditional love.
Vintage television: I gave up on current programs a long time ago and because of the magic of DVD’s I was able to enjoy once again such classics as Ben Casey, Father Knows Best, Car 54, Flipper, Daniel Boone, and countless others… And I love my vintage radio shows too! The Shadow, Suspense! Bob and Ray and Jack Benny!
Wife: What can I say? I love Terri more than yesterday but not as much as tomorrow! I hit the jackpot because God gave me the perfect woman as my companion and best friend…We have grown even deeper in love this year. Thank you for putting up with me.
Xcellent books: OK, I might have fudged a little bit here, but I have read more books this year than in any other year of my Xsistence! I really enjoyed the writings of Wayne Jacobsen, Brennan Manning, Richard Paul Evans and Mitch Albom and that’s just to name a few.
You: My congregation, my flock, my readers, my listeners, my friends and my family!
Zeal: May I never lose the fire or the passion of the childlike wonder. May I always behave what I believe and do so with all of my heart. And may I never forget where all of life comes from. Thank You Lord with all my heart.
Happy Thanksgiving to you all from A to Z, from Rudy!