Bitter Elections, Diminished Harvest and Changing Times – Thanksgiving 2019

Thanksgiving season is here.

My own sense of Thanksgiving has been tested this year.

Oil and gas are on the chopping block. Harvest is late and sales are iffy. Stock prices are in their October slump. And now, I’m living through a federal election campaign that engenders spite, hatred and mudslinging.

None of this creates the fuzzy feeling of Hallmark Thanksgiving movies.

I’m digging deep into my soul to find the key to Thanksgiving 2019.

Not a golden key this year. Not a silver key. Not even a bronze key.

The key this year is flawed and despairing. The light that reflects off the Thanksgiving key has patches of darkness and the cloudiness of reality.

And we are left with a choice.

To carry a gratitude attitude, or to fall into despair.

Philosophically, our world has turned towards “existentialism” – the end result of which is merely accepting my own existence as all there is in this life. “I’m it!”

This thinking requires a leap of faith. This faith requires me to hold my breath and jump – trusting that I will land safely. And if and when I land, that there is some reason for being there.

In the end, the solitary god I call myself – loses out on meaning, loses the inward space of peace and  dismisses thanksgiving. Thanking myself comes out sounding hollow and without basis.

Let me just affirm an alternate attitude that I have held, and others before me have held for centuries.

God is. God is Good. God is Good all the time.

Thanksgiving is possible. Even when elections don’t go my way. Or when crops don’t get harvested. Or when oil and gas is dismissed and my financial worth evaporates.

I hold to a creator God, who directs the universe with care and compassion. All the time. While I may not understand, I have faith there is a plan. For the days of security and safety, I’m thankful. For the instruction of suffering, I’m thankful. For the upset of grief, I’m thankful. For the hidden in life yet to be revealed, I’m thankful. For unfolding justice, I’m thankful.

Thanksgiving 2019.

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By Ron Baker

Ron Baker is a recently retired (2005) member of the Kindersley community. His roots run deep – his grandfather homesteaded just outside Kindersley in the early 1900's. Ron was born in the old Kindersley Hospital, has made his home in various other communities over the years, but keeps coming back. Committed to the community, Ron has found his local involvement has proved to be great fodder for some hilarious tales and tragic events. His experience in administration and working with people, along with his love for a good story, ought to help to bring daily life to life! Ron blogs at ronbaker.ca, and is pleased to be a part of the writing “crew” at Kindersley Social.