My parents have two daughters and three grandchildren and the last time we were all together in one place was in 2019 for a graduation in Boston. In the intervening years life happened. Covid came, making it impossible to visit inside the senior center where my parents live. One grandchild moved to Spain. Another took a job that required traveling the globe full time, even during the holidays. And my parents stopped riding on airplanes. And so it feels like a bit of a holy miracle that we have planned to gather at my parents home in Texas this year for Thanksgiving. With the holiday yet a week away I can already smell the aromas in my Mom’s kitchen, already hear the hum of football games on Dad’s TV next to the recliner and already hear the grandkids giggling together in the elevator.
With all this anticipation rolling around inside of me, I listened to a podcast this week called Everything Happens. * The theme was “being with” and it struck me that “being with” is the power of Thanksgiving. Whether you get together weekly with your family and friends or only every 5 years, there is some sacred power in simply being present, showing up, sharing bread and wine. The podcast highlighted a tendency I have, which maybe you have too. The tendency for we humans to want to “fix” each other. Or “help” each other. Or “speak the right words” to comfort one another. But oftentimes “being with” is quite enough or even better than helping or fixing those people we care about so deeply.
And all of that reminded me that in the coming weeks we will celebrate the birth of Jesus who came among us as “Emmanuel,” which means God with us. Love-made flesh is what we need.
Grace and Peace,
Carla
*Everything Happens with Kate Bowler: Season 13, Episode 12; Being With, Sam Wells
