Jack’s Winning Words 11/26/14
“Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.”  (M.F.K. Fisher—Food Writer)  What’s Thanksgiving dinner “really” like at your place?  Is the emphasis on the food or the relationships?  Fisher writes that sharing food “should not be indulged in lightly.”  It’s an ancient sign of civility.  Even writing a check to a food bank can be an intimate human act.  Might this be done this year at the Thanksgiving table?    ;-)  Jack

 FROM TARMART REV:  Pondering thoughts . . . a couple of years ago my wife and I attended a local Lutheran Church's Thanksgiving Dinner to show our support and gratitude for their outreach effort, wishing I had thought ahead and offered to serve right along with them. Meals are found to be excellent times to share meaningful fellowship and thoughtful reflection. Happy Thanksgiving, Jack!!====JACK:  The offer is often appreciated...and sometimes welcomed.    

FROM MICHIZONA RAY:  "Breaking bread" is one of the great all-time rituals of relationship. Every time we take "communion" we re-enact the story of the First Communion (Last Supper) with the Christ, who we acknowledge is in us. There's a relationship worth acknowledgement! There is a wonderful nourishment of both body and soul when we gather together to share meals with one another. Food Banks are great; but we remain one step removed from the experience. We need to share ourselves first-hand at the table and beyond. Thank you Father for the gift of life itself, and for the opportunity to share the bounty of our harvest with others.====JACK:  I once had a church member who would take his children to work at a soup kitchen on Thanksgiving Day.  They would also volunteer as Salvation Army bell ringers during the holidays. ====RAY:  Yes it is. I think we can become lazy in this regard. It is far to easy to donate money or pay taxes and have a sense that we are serving one another. It has become a sort of "deferred charity". As you noted in your response, it is a much different experience to be charitable first-hand, than it is to write a check. Both are good; but one includes the personal "relationship" that the other misses. Do others want/need our stuff or our love? I think both... Is that what you're writing about?====JACK:  Yes!  Both and...

FROM MK:  With us it’s both, most of the food is tradition, Grandmas, or Aunt Jean’s, or Dads favorite, but food brings us together, for prayer, thanksgiving, and being together.  By Family it such a blessing we are not perfect but my parents did an great job of teaching us respect and acceptance of each other, come to think of it, I think the practice is generations old, we are a tight knit group, Family!====JACK:  I truly feel sorry for those who do not have a positive sense of "family."  The food is just food when not served with memories and with thanksgiving for family and friends.

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  Nothing intimate about Thanksgiving with us...it's a celebration of calories, cholesterol, and consumption overload.  I regret that we indulge ourselves with too much food, like so many others across the country.  We would be better off doing more chatting and less chewing.  ====JACK:  In my Thanksgiving reflections at last Sunday's Community Thanksgiving Service, I suggested that we each make a list of 100 things that we're thankful for.  You might want to make such a list to "spice" up your meal.....like "I'm thankful for that pile of dirty laundry.  It means that I have clothes."

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  One of my favorite charities to donate to is Lutheran World Relief, as it addresses world hunger as one of it's top priorities.  The fact that 88% of all monies donated goes to the people in need instead of getting eaten up in administrative costs is a plus.====JACK:  There are so many needs...and a limited amount of money.  The choices are hard.  It seems as  though you are choosing wisely.