As I write these words, I am looking at the calendar which says, Tuesday, November 22. My calendar is reminding me that we are two days away from Thanksgiving and that the Season of Advent is around the corner. Unfortunately, it also reminds me of where I was and what I was doing fifty-three years ago today.

 

I was in Ninth Grade English class in the basement of Lane Junior High School in West Allis, Wisconsin, when we got the news that President Kennedy had been assassinated. I knew that something bad had happened when the school counselor called our teacher out into the hall. When he returned, his usual toothy grin was replaced by a painfully serious expression, one that we had never seen. He stood in the middle of the class and shared the tragic news. He said something to the effect - "I don't know what you think about President Kennedy and that's not important. Right now, his family and our country need our prayers, and that's what's important." With that, he walked to his desk and sat down. The rest of the hour was stone cold silence . . . some of the kids just stared at the front of the room and other heads were bowed; I am certain that prayers were being offered. When the bell rang, no one moved, until our teacher went to the door, opened it, and said, "It'll be okay!"

 

"It'll be okay" - it wasn't much and neither was it profound, but those words went with me as I walked from that classroom into a hallway of stunned students. I trusted that my teacher knew something that I didn't at the time. It was all we had, and I was willing to give it a chance.

 

The fact is that nothing ever will be perfect, and sometimes the best we can hope for is that it will be okay. In this very diverse and highly opinionated world in which we live, we won't always get things to turn out our way, but somehow, things will turn out okay more often than not, and I can live with that. As we look forward, the key to life for all of us is to believe that "It'll be okay" - not because our leaders say so, but because God says so. Right now, all of our leaders, all of this nation's and the world's people, all of us need each others' prayers, as well as our best efforts to make it so; and that is what's important. That's what brings me, finally, back around to Thanksgiving and Advent.

 

Thursday is Thanksgiving Day. It is a starting point. It is my sincere hope and prayer that we all can enjoy the blessings of family, friends, and football, along with the feasting that so defines this day in our nation. I know that in some families and communities that may be more easily said than done because of the emotional ride that we all have been through over the past several months, but there must be a starting point. It is time for us to move forward together. I encourage us to remember where our sense of unity and community begins -- the One from whom all our blessings flow. May we turn aside from what fractures us and call upon the One that heals us. May we give abundant thanks for our Creator's gracious gifts to all of humanity, beginning with the gift of life and the undeniable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We are a blessed people and it is important to live as blessed people!

 

Sunday is the beginning of Advent. On that day, we begin a journey to follow that brightest of stars that leads us to an amazing discovery in Bethlehem. The adventure of Advent leads each one of us to find Emmanuel, Jesus the Christ. Jesus fulfills God's promise to God's people and brings hope in the midst of our uncertainties. Jesus is the one whom God sends to assure us that "it'll be okay." I know that Advent is a busy time, but I pray that each person in every congregation will find time each day during the Advent season to reflect, pray, and to embrace the reality of Jesus Christ. Light a candle of hope; find a daily devotion for yourself and/or your family; pray for God's Peace to reign throughout all of creation!

 

Happy Thanksgiving and may you have a blessed Advent journey.