We invite you to take this season of Thanksgiving to reflect upon the following questions, excerpted from "Make Thanksgiving special, take time to reflect," by Sr. Nancy Sylvester, IHM
The Native Americans gave the Pilgrims food in their time of scarcity.
- What do you have that others need? What is the food needed at this time of scarcity?
- What do you have that is needed by others? Is it money to buy food or clothing? Is it time to be present, to visit, to listen, to do everyday tasks? Is it an openness to receive what is being offered to you?
- What is the scarcity in your life that needs to be fed? Is it the absence of love, friendship, or community? Is it a lack of hope for the future? Is it a feeling of malaise that things are out of control? Is it not experiencing God’s presence?
- What is the scarcity in the life of the community that needs to be fed? Is it the lack of compassion for those suffering throughout our world? Is it keeping things separate and not seeing how everything is united and part of a whole? Is it not caring for the health and well-being of Earth?
- What do you have that others need, and what is the scarcity that needs “food” in order to get past this winter?
When you have finished, pause. Take a few minutes simply to be with your reflections.
Then offer a prayer of thanks to God, present since the beginning, sowing seeds of love
and compassion, offering food throughout times of scarcity and celebrating with all creation.
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