Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US. Our American friends will be gathered round their tables skirting difficult conversations to keep conviviality alive! Here in Canada we are settling in for the winter season. This morning I woke to see the ground covered, white with snow. Last Sunday afternoon, mid-way through a concert at the church, I thought to myself, “Why is it so cold in here?” Then I realized it was because I had not turned on the heat for the afternoon event. I am out of the habit of thinking about that detail as we have enjoyed such a long, warm, summer-into-fall season. I jacked up the heat and enjoyed the second half of the concert so much more.
Later that afternoon I circumvented the church checking that all the doors were locked, this after walking through the building and turning out all the lights that had been left on. It got me thinking about how I spend much of my time – locking up, picking up, cleaning up, setting up, sorting out, taking down. None of it very glamourous work. But work I see as valuable. I am always a bit bemused when I work with interns. Understandably the main things they want to learn include how to preach, how to do weddings and funerals, how to conduct a baptism. But in reality really, much of ministry happens between the coffee urn and the piled chairs. I use to tease my Bible study group that at theological college we should have been given a course in how to make coffee because that is what I spend most of my time doing! This is not a bad thing. One of the important hallmarks of Christian witness is hospitality. I rather enjoy making coffee, setting out a plate of cookies, turning on the lights, arranging the chairs, so that when people arrive they know they are expected, wanted, and that there is a place ready for them. I think that kind of welcome adds a layer of grace.
I remember attending a workshop years ago. It was a two day workshop on Stewardship. The one, and only, piece of information I remember was to always make an effort to care regardless of how small the effort is. The leader said, “If you walk through a room and you see an empty coffee cup then it is your job to pick it up.” He reiterated, “It is your responsibility to pick it up and not leave it for another person to do. That is respect, care and stewardship.” It is a rather broad definition of stewardship but it IS stewardship. Picking up, looking after, being responsible are all aspects of what it means to be a good steward of a place and time.
So, with a nod to the American Thanksgiving, today I am thankful to have a set of keys to use responsibly, to know where the thermostats are and where the coffee is stored. It gives me an opportunity to provide service to others and to offer grace. I am grateful.
