"He prepares dinner for about 150 people every thanksgiving."
My friend works in technology. A large part of his team are people from India. The "how was your Thanksgiving" conversation took an unexpected turn.
"I did my annual practice of preparing Thanksgiving dinner for people who are lonely, away from home and/or going through a hard time. Like last year, it was harder again this year, since many don't want to assemble. So I visit around, find people who need a Thanksgiving dinner, prepare it and take it to each of them. It takes a few weeks to buy everything and cook the meals."
"Wow, that is terrific. What inspired you to do something so noble and labor intensive?" my friend asked.
"A few years ago when my friends and I moved to the states for business we didn't know anyone. Language was a challenge and our customs and tastes were different than everyone around us. An American Thanksgiving was new to us.
Some friendly people from a local church were sensitive to our situation. They invited us to Thanksgiving dinner and helped us not to feel so alone and like unwanted strangers.
It made such a difference in my life, I am glad to be the one helping others now."
I felt better when I heard this story. I hope you do as you read it.
The news is bad. Feel good stories are necessary.
There have been two school shootings this week. Last week a man drove through a parade killing and injuring people. Our hearts break. The tragedies are overwhelming.
What can we do to change our world?
I wish I could undo the wrongs and take away the pain. I can't but I can care. Sometime that will involve hospitality for a stranger and when we care it will make a difference.
Our care won't make the news like a tragedy does, but it will change lives, quietly, behind the scenes, one person and one situation at a time. We need to encourage one another to keep doing good works and caring for people, all the more as things get really bad. When care becomes as contagious as the Thanksgiving dinner storyE, eventually we will build a culture of care.
This year there are many around us who experienced loss. It may be the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, loss of health or just the loss of normalcy due to another year rocked by Covid.
Especially for people who have experienced loss, Mountainview Christian Church is hosting their annual Blue Christmas Service, December 13 at 6:30 Mountain Time. You can attend in person, invite family, refer friends or watch online as the service will be livestreamed. For more information go to www.mountainviewfamily.org/christmas. It is an event that can help people who are hurting to feel a little better.
When you encounter people in any kind of need and care for them, it matters.
Your care matters!
Your life matters,
Chaplain Dan
Rev. Daniel R. Hettinger
303.905.0478
