changes at thanksgiving

it seems that thanksgiving week is really the signifying change of seasons. as i ventured to church today, i noticed the 'leaf collectors' from the city.

i have to confess, since i left sacramento, i have not had to rake a leaf! i've even contemplated getting rid of my rake! i have treated myself to lawn care, and i quickly learned that the treat became a necessity! i can't imagine doing that kind of yard care, in the quick time they work, on my own. it is a pleasure, even when i come home in at night, to notice that my yard looks cared about; i even noticed that the last of my leaves fell from my front tree this week-end, and on monday, they had been nicely raked by someone -- an angel leaf compacter perhaps? -- neatly under my tree. My backyard tree has just begun to turn from green to harvest red!

but i remember the sight of fallen leaves, and the delight (?) of families raking them into piles, and children jumping into those neat piles. I do love this time of the season.

and, you may recall, about a year ago this month, i wrote a blog on bridges/pass-overs. i had gone to a clergy gathering on the coast about the same time that our train over-pass here in merced was erected. 2 pictures appeared in that blog, connecting the bridges that week. well, the latest on that 1 1/2 year project is that on Saturday, December 3rd -- same day as the community parade and our you'll-not-want-to-miss united methodist women's bazaar (81st annual! jams, lunch, and yummy other rooms) -- the project will be complete, and people will be able to travel 'g' street in style; it really looks amazing. this will be the only track-free main driving section in merced.

and, by the way, the women have been busy at it this week already, making holiday cheese balls and yes, even fruit cakes for december 3rd. and, quite honestly, these fruitcakes are awesome!

i have to say, merced really is amazing. for all our economic difficulties, we are still a living/breathing community that offers much in the way of life to the central valley. and if all else fails, you can take a trip to oz this december, when playhouse merced opens "the wizard of oz". this will be a holiday delight indeed!

so, at thanksgiving, give thanks for being a part of a land of plenty. even when we do not have what we 'always want to have', we have more than enough. give thanks for at least that much! and remember to offer not only a prayer of thanks! share from your bounty; offer to help distribute good cheer in some way this holiday season.

we were invited to ring the bell at a kettle this holiday season for the salvation army. i've never done that before . . . .

so whatever you do this week-end, share the gift of time with family and/or friends; try to resist the urge to rush through thanksgiving so that you can stand in line for midnight openings so that you can spend money you don't have, securing items people really don't need...instead, spend time, precious as it is, sharing your love. help improve the economy by making every cent count, interest free! if your church doesn't have enough options for holiday ministries, send a donation to "wesley foundation merced" as a gift-in-kind for the ministry of college students. a beautiful card will be sent to the recipient in your name!

but more than anything else, invite someone to take a walk, look at the leaves, in piles or simply falling to the ground, and give thanks for the opportunities before you.

i give thanks for being invited by a group who purchased a wonderful dinner from our service auction back in june. on sunday, 9 of us gathered for a homemade incredible mexican dinner. what a gift! what a treat! what a delight-ful evening!!! the perfect end to my week, and the beginning of a restful day off. and here i am, back at it again, but renewed...ready for another walk among the leaves. . . .