Dear Parish Family,

            Thanksgiving letters often talk about an “attitude of gratitude.”  As I reflected on this concept and our current socio-economic situation in Ontario, I could not help but think of Old Testament Israel. As they entered the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey, they were warned that one of the biggest temptations they were going to face was going to be the loss of “gratitude.” They were coming out of the wilderness with only what they could carry. Because of their fear, they had been in the wilderness for forty years, so that the majority of that wandering band only knew living day-by-day by the grace of God. In the Promised Land, they could accumulate both food and wealth. Prosperity would give them great opportunity but it would also distract them. Distract them from community need and personal meaning. Accumulating and protecting personal wealth would become more important than meeting the needs of the poor, the widow and the orphan. What you have would become more important than the good you do with it. Israel did not heed the warning. Even the parables Jesus used and the social encounters recorded in the Gospels show that the lesson was falling on deaf ears.
            So what of Ontario 2009? For over a year we have seen the devastating effects of financial greed in high places. How often do we see the creation of a perceived “socially hyped” need so easily met until the bill finally comes due? The salesperson has long left and the bill collector is calling daily. Everyone is feeling the effects. Without much effort the world has lead us down the road of privilege creating a generation that has lost its sense of gratitude. “It is my right to have.” The word “no” and delayed gratification are not part of their world. Sadly the lessons are learned the hard way.
            There are signs of hope. The attitude of gratitude has not been lost. It often takes a crisis to bring it to the surface but it is still visibly present. Volunteerism and social networking are thriving in our community. Consistently, when the need is made known, the response is overwhelming. We all have the ability to overcome ‘self’ and meet the need of the ‘other.’ We can ignore the call of the world for “more” and seek “enough” for all. We can and do find more personal value and meaning in giving, lifting up the other person, than accumulating temporal riches.  We can live with a sense of divine gratitude if we so choose. Giving thanks is a choice. So choose the Divine path.

            “It is more blessed to give than receive.” Bless those around you with your expression of divine gratitude.

The Reverend David Warren