Notice

Notice

Over the past couple of days, we’ve reflected on Psalm 104. Again, what I love about this Psalm is that it is overflowing with unrestrained praise and celebration.

Of course, when we turn on the news or scroll through the headlines, they are full of violence, heartbreak, and tragedy. It often does feel like things are falling apart. But this is not the whole story, is it?

I know I’ve shared this with you before. At Thanksgiving, our family has adopted a new prayer. It’s a prayer with our eyes wide open. 

As we gather around the table before the Thanksgiving dinner we pause just a moment to look around at the faces of those who gathered with us. And we remember all the shared memories. Some of the faces may be new friends, and some may be people we’ve known for decades –  people with whom we’ve we’ve shared a lot of life – a lot of laughter and tears, a lot of joy and disappointments over the years. We’ve carried a lot for each other. And we give thanks to God for that gift – for the gift that they are. 

And as we look around at the circle of gathered friends and family we remember what a gift it is to have this time together – for none of us know how many more Thanksgivings we have together. We don’t know when we will see each other again – or even if. We give thanks to God for the gift of that moment itself.  

Then we give thanks to God for the food before us, for God’s providence, and for the privilege that we each have to share from our abundance, and to reflect a little light and hope back into this world.

We recognize all these gifts and give thanks to God. 

It does us well to notice like the Psalmist the blessings in our lives and the world around us. Just that simple noticing and naming can shift our perspectives. I know for me – it can work against my sense of entitlement. It works against my natural tendency to feel as though the world is coming apart at the seams.

We do well to remember that each moment, each breath is a gift. 

The Psalmist ends with a type of doxology: “I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being.” May we never fail to notice the good and beauty we see in the world around us. And may we give thanks and praise. 

Let us pray: Open our eyes, O God, to the beauty and good in the world around us, even here, even now. Amen.

Daily Message Author: Joe Albright

Joe began his ministry in Sarasota, Florida as an associate pastor, and it was in this capacity that he worked alongside the Reverend Dr. Roger Kunkel. Roger was a colleague who became a mentor and treasured friend. From Sarasota, Joe was called to Jacksonville, Florida where he served as the Head of Staff at Hodges Boulevard Presbyterian Church. Currently, Joe and his family worship and serve at Geneva Presbyterian Church in Switzerland, Florida. Full Bio

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