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No Essay to Submit but here is how I feel about Thanksgiving. I'm finally getting to the point in this busy day to sit back and reflect on all that has happened. My wife Jill is the joy of my life and I can't frame the words to describe how much she means to me. Words of thanks fail. My son is stationed in the Navy in Hawaii with his wife and 4 month old baby (who I haven't seen yet) and my daughter lives in Chicago, expecting their first child in February. Another year went by without seeing any of them. My son Micah has served in Afghanistan twice. He has made it home safe and sound so far and I'm grateful beyond words that he is safe. We will see him next week when he comes for a visit. In February, he will be moving to California with Eve and Jack to a base about 3 hours away from us. That's the first time I'll meet my grandson. I'm very thankful that of all the places in the world that that the Navy could have sent him, they chose to send him so close. God does answer prayer. Today our house was full of people, some traveled 3 hours, others only a short distance. There was the traditional food (almost one whole pie per person!), a huge turkey that was finished to perfection--all the fixin's. Hours later, I'm still stuffed. I'm thankful that everyone was here and had a good time. I grew up in a very secular home. Thanksgiving was only a holiday when we had a small reunion with family members and ate too much of the best foods. My parents were always glad to get a few days off work as we were glad to get a few days off school--the usual stuff. But over the years it has changed for me to the more foundational traditions of the day. I am an ordained chaplain and I volunteer with many different groups to help those who are in need. Observing what some others are experiencing on Thanksgiving gives a completely different perspective. We go to the nursing homes where many have been abandoned and forgotten by their familes who are too busy to see them. The state pays the bills and that maintains the status quo.  Many are no longer even with us in their minds. But the sadness that fills their eyes tells me that they still know the emptiness. Holidays are the worst time for them. They need someone to love them and even in their state, you can tell they are grateful when a stranger shows that someone cares about them. We see disaster and fire victims who can't understand why/how this could happen to them or their loved ones. But it did nevertheless. They can't celebrate today because they are overwhelmed with their loss. Sometimes a warm meal and someone to watch their dog for them for a few days will help them cope. For this opportunity, I am thankful. We see those who are in prison and are paying for their past, many of them with no futures because when they get out (if they get out) the odds are very high that they will end up right back where they are now in a short period of time. Prisoners are dehumanized in prison and often their families have abandoned them, embarrassed and ashamed. The Holidays are the most depressing and traumatizing times for those inside. They are hardened and find it hard to receive anything from us. But it's the effort that shapes who we are and so we keep trying to reach some. It is gratifying to work with those in prison who know they need help and will do whatever it takes to get straightened out. Our group is working on establishing a re-entry program to help them integrate back into society and break the cycle. For those few there is some joy in a day like today. We have established a program that works with youthful offenders who are juvies or are on probation to try to help them get straightened out and stay out of prison. It is a cutting edge program approved by the courts and shows enormous promise to really matter in and bring positive change to a young person's life. It's never ending but always fulfilling and the celebration when one victory is won drives us onward. For that I am thankful today. I see the homeless who are often not in their right minds and I'm thankful that I'm not somehow reduced to that as well. In these hard times, I see those who have lost jobs and are struggling to keep their homes, those whose families have broken up or those who are fighting to keep food on the table and I'm thankful that we can work with organizations that help to make today the highlight of their year so far. Jesus said, "If you do it onto the least of these, my brethren, you have done it onto me." Our organization has recently obtained a refrigerated truck and sponsors from many of the farmers who have food they can donate. It's mis-shapen fruit and vegetables that can't be sold in the store that otherwise gets thrown away or eggs that aren't big enough and get destroyed as unsellable. These feed hungry people who can then be thankful for something in their lives, sometimes for the first time that they can remember. You can't put into words the gratitude that a tear gliding down a hungry person's cheek demonstrates as they eat something that didn't come from a garbage can. We are working with the city to establish a "tent city" that will temporarily house and feed families that have been displaced and have no where to go. I'm grateful that God has opened my eyes to see the need and given me the means and conviction to do something about it. There is no bottom to the depth of my thankfulness. This is when we thank God for His watching over us, for His provision that gives all that life requires, for safety and His graceful intervention in our lives and most of all for His promises of redemption through faith in His Son. As we prayed around the table this afternoon, the theme in our prayers was our gratitude for His work for us on the Cross. Without that promise, none of the rest really matters. It's all temporary but His ultimate gift is eternal.  As we think of all that we can be thankful for this season, think first of what He has done for us in the sense that is the most lasting. I can tell you that it will make us even more thankful for all the rest too.