Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Victorious Living

Home
Family, Parenting and Religion
The Subtlety of Thanksgiving

The Subtlety of Thanksgiving

Last updated on: November 25, 2021 at 5:00 am by Victorious Living

The Subtlety of Thanksgiving 2021-11-15T13:29:20-05:00 Victorious Living

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I have always thought of Thanksgiving as the most subtle of holidays.

As a kid, Christmas was this wild explosion of excitement. There were gifts, a mysterious visit from Santa in the middle of the night, and ballads unique to the season. Easter always (rightfully) had a dramatic tone, with passion plays always playing a part. July 4th had fireworks, nothing subtle about that. Even New Years has the hoards of people in TimesSquare, squeezing all the intensity we can manage out of a crystallized ball descending in slow motion.

But Thanksgiving was different. It felt different. There was a quieter aura about it. There was a buzz about food. But it was a lower buzz, like a kind of hum. There were football and FRIENDS episodes, a slow-moving parade. In fact, when the commentators shouted excited one-liners about whatever was happening in the parade, it felt obtrusive, out-of-place.

The Last Barricade

It all comes apart pretty quickly. As soon as Black Friday hits, it is a frenzy, all the way to Christmas Day. And Black Friday tries to begin in, like, August now.

In some ways, it seems as though we are trying to burst through the subtlety of Thanksgiving.

The day of Thanksgiving is a great opportunity. It is a time to pause, to rest. To breathe.

Like many families, we often do some iteration of going around and saying what we are thankful for. At least for me, this often feels forced and contrite. I am never sure what I am going to say. But as soon as I start speaking, it seems there was much more gratitude in me than I am prepared for.

My father, famously, starts to tear up when he prays. The kids look around, all the attention on them and struggle with what the concept of gratitude is truly about. We speak and we listen. We share.

A Simple Magic

It is short. But it is enough. It is an opportunity. And the pause, the intention, the subtlety, brief though it may be, works. It is a simple magic.

Unfortunately, it is all too often gone as quick as it arrived.

What would it take to extend these moments of magic? Does the subtle power of Thanksgiving lose something if we do it more consistently? Or does it gain power?

I think one of the great challenges in my life has been moving from moments of goodness to habits of goodness. Rare and unique experiences feel special. They are different. And there is a treasure in their distinctness from the rest of life, a significant part of their value. The magic of Thanksgiving really cannot be created every single day.

On the other hand, the heart of what causes the logic, the source, seems like something that can transition into everyday life. I can adopt practices of gratitude everyday without it having to be Thanksgiving everyday.

That seawall that seems to get breached every Black Friday does not have to get breached. It is tougher. The circumstances change. Meaning, the opportunity looks different. But the heart of gratitude, the subtle magic of Thanksgiving, can and should become a habit of the heart, a stream of goodness that permeates the entire year.

Previous Post

November 23, 2021

Why Giving Up is Such a Popular Option

Next Post

November 30, 2021 The Home Stretch

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Choices Conflict Resolution Culture Change Emotions Failure Faith Fear Freedom V Growth Healthy Communication Hope Identity Influence Leadership Learn Mistakes Mood Curve Ownership Perspective Power Relationships Self-Awareness Self-Governance Systems Thinking Three Things You Control Transformational Leadership Trust Truth Uncategorized Values Vision

Select a Month January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

I am confidence in what is hoped for and assurance about what is not seen. Without me, it's impossible to please God. What am I?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Faith Hope Trust Belief

Books by This Author Books by Victorious Living

See All Titles »