Thursday November 24, 2016 

It's Thanksgiving 

Pass the love, the warmth and sharing.

Pass the smiles, the hugs, and caring.

Pass the blessing, big, and small.

Pass them on to one and all.

For the expanding grandeur of Creation, worlds known and unknown, galaxies beyond galaxies, filling us with awe and challenging our imaginations;

We give thanks.

For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons;

We give thanks.

For the joy of human life, its wonders and surprises, its hopes and achievements; We give thanks.

For human community, our common past and future hope, our oneness transcending all separation, our capacity to work for peace and justice in the midst of hostility and oppression; We give thanks.

For high hopes and noble causes, for faith without fanaticism, for understanding of views not shared;

We give thanks.

For all who have labored and suffered for a fairer world, who have lived so that others might live in dignity and freedom;

We give thanks.

For human liberties and sacred rites, for opportunities to change and grow, to affirm and choose;

We give thanks.

We pray that we may live not by our fears but by our hopes, not by our words but by our deeds. We give thanks for these and for the bounty before us.

Amen.

How can you sit down at a holiday table this year with relatives whose views you can’t stand? The election has left Americans polarized and resentful. Emotions are high. Empathy is low. Simple, escapist solutions—may not work.

This year, try some tough love. Leading experts on empathy and healing have helped devise a strategy for families to get along this holiday season: Learn to listen...READ MORE