Thanksgiving

The sound of voices drifted out from the church sanctuary as I quickly grabbed my purse and stepped out of the car. I was greeted by the moist coolness of mid-November Central Washington morning, one of those mornings where the gray of the sky was interrupted only by flocks of Canadian geese heading south to warmer places and the trees had replaced their leaves with a coating of frost. A sudden burst of laughter from the sanctuary snapped my attention back from where it had wandered and reminded me why I was here…at church two hours before most would arrive: today was my first day of worship team rehearsal.

Those who have followed my writings may recall that in my last post I revealed that I was stepping out of my comfort zone and applying to join our church’s worship team. Music has been a silent love of mine for years, going as far back as when I first took guitar lessons in the second grade. For much of my adult life that love has taken a back seat to college, work, starting a family and running a business. On occasion over the years I have picked up my trumpet and violin for a bit, but never in any serious manner. And singing, well it’s always been something I loved (think 10 year old me belting out a Mariah Carey song while waiting for the school bus) but never thought I was “good enough”. But at the urging of my church family and with the support of my husband I finally pushed those insecurities aside and took a step in faith.

I snuck into the sanctuary, for some reason thinking that I could hide in the back row of a room that was pretty much empty but for the worship team and the sound crew. But my presence was quickly noticed and before I could protest (well, maybe a tiny protest escaped my lips) I was on stage, microphone in hand, doing something that I had never believed I could do. With a slight nervous wobble, my voice emerged and with it came a mix of harmony and melody that was totally improvised and could only be Heaven sent.

But this post isn’t about me, my love of music, or starting a new chapter in life. Rather, it is about thanksgiving and freedom.

I recently finished reading the book In the Land of Blue Burqas by Kate McCord (protective pseudonym). This beautifully written memoir chronicles the five years that the author spent in Afghanistan heading a non-governmental organization with the goal of helping Afghan women. The catch: the author is Christian and worked during those five years to not only serve the Afghan people but to also serve Jesus and share His love with this strongly Muslim country. A country where those professing to be followers of the Honorable Jesus Messiah (as the author referred to Jesus in conversation with her Afghan neighbors) walked a fine line between life and death.

As I sat and in church this morning I, and those around me, enjoyed a freedom that many in our world do not have…the freedom to openly worship. To sing, to pray, the share in fellowship with other believers without fear of death. As our pastor started the service he reminded us that Thanksgiving was just a few days away and asked for a few people to give testament to what they are thankful for. I honesty cannot remember what was said as my mind was lost in a thought that came at me from out of the blue: This is a gift, this freedom to worship. Thoughts and words that could only be from the Holy Spirit swirled in my head…how just having the chance to openly join a worship team is a gift to be thankful for. How to openly meet is a gift to be thankful for. How elsewhere in the world believers quietly gather in back rooms and basements while we are able to openly celebrate our faith in public

A new thought came to me: this is why I sing, why we all should even if we think we can’t…because we can. Because we should. As those other believers quietly meet in the shadows, those of us who have the freedom to do otherwise should not take that blessing for granted. We should meet, we should openly share God’s love, we should make a joyful noise in honor of those who cannot do so. For those believers covertly meeting in Afghanistan, in China, in former Soviet states and elsewhere across the globe.

I’m not here to make a political statement, but we as Americans live a blessed life. Our blessings are as numerous as the stars in the sky. As we prepare to gather with our families in just a few days to celebrate Thanksgiving we need to keep this thought in our hearts. No matter how rough life is, how many curve balls we are thrown or how hard the daily struggle is we are truly blessed.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thesselonians 5:16-18 NLT