Such writers usually express gratefulness for family, friends and life’s basics. Many draw attention to items or experiences we take for granted, and they sometimes call poetic attention to life’s overlooked small joys. Some stir us by revealing their capacities to appreciate beauty in nature and by conveying feelings of love for those closest to them.
Such writers seem truly thankful and may eclipse some God-fearing people’s efforts at expressing gratefulness to humankind. But when I read an author’s “what I’m thankful for” piece and find no mention of God, I feel sad for that writer and wonder what experiences formed him/her. I sometimes imagine asking that columnist questions such as these:
Do you believe in God? If so, did you avoid including personal thanks to God because you are trying to be politically correct, trying not to offend, trying to garner the largest possible readership? Do you realize you are possibly contributing to a national trend of eliminating God from public life? Have you ever wondered if the thankfulness you feel could be a magnetic response emanating from the core of your being to the core of heaven?
“The very fact that a man is thankful implies Someone to be thankful to,” said John Baillie.
Hosea Ballou noted, “If gratitude is due from children to their earthly parent, how much more is the gratitude of the great family of men due to our father in heaven.”
After reading the work of a writer who expresses thankfulness but stops short of thanking God, I want to remind him of these words penned by an Old Testament songwriter: “O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good; for his mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1).
I believe that desiring to give thanks to God is — or was — natural. Mankind’s fall into sin altered an innate desire to praise, or even trust, our Creator. Once Adam and Eve sinned, they “knew they were naked.” Self-consciousness took center stage as a wall of separation fell between man and God.
We are still enamored with that wall of separation. Many of us want God’s blessings — if we believe in God — but we may not want him meddling too much in our business or our busyness. As we fail to recognize God, we add more blocks to that wall of separation between God and man.
Perhaps a writer may believe in God but become fearful of being accused of “using” religious profession or “wearing his religion on his sleeve.” Such accusations can quiet some who wish to publicly acknowledge God.
Columnists and journalists help other writers chronicle events, trends and biographies. So when I read columns about thankfulness and find no mention of God, I think, “Ah, a reflection of our times.”
Perhaps modern and postmodern trends involving ultra-humanism, multiculturalism, atheism and plain old debauchery have put a damper on publicly praising God, even on “Turkey Day” — oops, I mean Thanksgiving Day. (For a second there I started “slip-sliding away” into secularism.)
As our society absorbs more diverse ethnic and religious groups, we become more multicultural. Increased multiculturalism may create confusion as to who God is, which may lead to less focus on God (or gods) and more focus on mankind — resulting in escalating humanism. We’ll then be encouraged, “without supernaturalism,” to “lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment.” Without God, however, we won’t achieve anything of lasting value for “the greater good of humanity.” And I sadly recall that the Bible contains stories telling about what happens to nations and people who forget God.
Most of us have heard the motto “Keep Christ in Christmas.” Maybe we need a slogan for November, something such as “Give God His Thanksgiving.”
I look forward to reading whatever columnists write about Thanksgiving, and I hope some will remember that “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord” (Psalm 92:1).
Steve Crain may be reached at crain207@nc.rr.com.
