On my daily drive to work, I pass by a church whose message sign sits in a prominent, very visible place along a winding and scenic drive. It also is poised right at a crossroads of stop signs. It is ‘prime real estate’ for advertising what is going on in the life of this church. Many churches would be envious of such a good spot for attracting people, for telling their story. This particular church sign does not have any of those catchy and sometimes controversial messages meant to stick in your brain all day. It simply advertises the time of the worship service and education hour. It also has the message that its ‘Thanksgiving Service’ will be at 10:30 a.m. It has had this message since November.

Now I realize to admit that this has been driving me crazy says so much more about me than it does about this church. I am reminded of all the times in my own church when events or services have been listed incorrectly. There is always someone…..usually more than one….who calls or emails to let me know about it. And then my mind also goes to the idea that they have been missing telling people about all the other things that have been going on SINCE Thanksgiving Day. I want to know who is in charge. See. This clearly is about me and my control issues!

Last week as I once again passed the sign for Thanksgiving worship, a thought crossed my mind. What if instead of allowing this to bug me, I would see it as an opportunity to think of everyday as Thanksgiving Day? And at 10:30 a.m., or at least when I passed the sign, I would offer a prayer of gratitude? This would help me create an order and intention out of what is, in my opinion, a neglected opportunity.

I began to think of all the things that happen each day for which I am grateful. The first steaming cup of coffee. Oatmeal smothered in brown sugar and those enormous blackberries I happened upon at the market last week. The laughter and playfulness of the children standing at the bus stop outside our house. The snow covered nose of the big black dog that shares our home. A warm car. The luxury of seat heaters. Smart wool socks. The smile of the person who is stopped at the same red light and happened to catch my eye. Trees that stand strong and tall against the rising, winter sun. The colors of the morning sky……black, blue, pink, violet, gold. My own two legs that move me through my day. The presence of my family moving in their own distinctive ways through the house in the morning.

All this gratitude and I have barely moved into the first hours of a day. A day that promises to be full of things I have planned and those that will surprise me. It made me think of one of my favorite songs by Minnesota singer/songwriter Ann Reed whose final lyrics are:

“A day that’s remembered
In a small, sacred space
Walking toward balance
Praying for grace.
Gather my blessings
Like the gifts that they are
Place them quite gently in my grateful heart.”

Which of course is what the seemingly neglected church sign had caused me to do. I had created a Thanksgiving Service in my grateful heart. It wasn’t November. Or the designated fourth Thursday of that month ‘set aside’ to give thanks. It was an ordinary day like any other. But my heart was overflowing.

Makes you wonder doesn’t it? Maybe that church is not being neglectful at all. Just sneaky. Maybe they are trying to help people see every day as Thanksgiving Day.

Well, they got me.