Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/79

Contributor - Peter J. Yff

Title - Beyond Thanksgiving

Topic - Thanksgiving

A great deal of attention focuses on "thanksgiving" this month, and that's good. it seems to me. however, that thanksgiving, to be both sincere and helpful, must be coupled with some appreciation of stewardship. Stewardship requires, at the least, proper and appropriate use of God's gifts, in a spirit of thankfullness, everyday.

Thankful stewardship will involve the right use of the resources God entrusts to our care. This holds true, whether for a nation, or a province, or an individual. Frequently a province, or even a country, will be taken to task because natural resources have been misused, or wasted. Our failure, for example, in the last twenty years to make a real attempt to conserve energy, and the resources from which it comes, results now in higher prices and shorter supply. What could have lasted for years longer has simply been spent, carelessly. Only recently are people coming to accept the fact that petroleum is ndt present in endless supply, and one day will run out entirely. Many of us simply say that the shortage is not real, only contrived, and is proclaimed simply for the enrichment of companies producing or refining the product.

That oil companies and oil producing countries have reaped a tremendous harvest financially is a matter or public record. This doesn't change or lessen the obligation of responsible use, however. One day the shortage will be so great that nobody will want to call it contrived or managed anymore. Moreover, as prices increase, the resource called 'money" gets involved to a larger extent. If the gas pump does not dictate how far we'll go, the pocketbook will.

Moreover, in our extracting of raw materials from the earth, we have scarred and damaged the landscape irreparably. The people who express concern and who attempt to block development of mining and transporting of resources until proper protection of adjoining land or tundra is assured are not all crack-pots who are opposed to all progress.

It's not only national, or provincial. Look at the traffic flow on any of the commuter roads at rush hour. The greatest proportion of cars, by far, on the Queen Elizabeth Way, or on Main Street, have but one occupant - the driver. Surely some of these folk come from the same neighbourhood, and surely some of them work the same hours. If shared transportation resulted in an average of two or three per car, it would cut use of gasoline significantly, conserving that resource, and improving the quality of the air besides. We would be thankful for both!

Yet, in the whole area of stewardship energy is only an illustration, or a case in point. Thankful stewardship requires faithfulness and care in the use of all of God's gifts. Among the resources given each of us are time, and abilities. Time is a precious commodity. The young do not always appreciate it, the older increasingly treasure it, only to find that it slips away with ever increasing momentum. Right use of time involves intelligent planning and practice. One trip to the store, for example, is completed earlier than an excursion involving two or three stops. Yet, if they are in the same direction, the longer errand will accomplish twice or three times as much, with the use of less total time. Sitting down and planning how to tackle a problem is far better use of time than going at it with no preparation, and having to start over. Sitting down and planning how to succeed in a difficult situation is far better use of time than sitting for an hour, or whatever, getting consensus on how bad the problem is. Working steadily is more helpful than working in spurts, and usually results in more being accomplished, with better quality overall.

We've all heard of the youth who was caught reading a comic book in class. He thought he had successfully concealed it behind his text book. Instead of concentrating on the material being taught, he whiled away the class hour reading something totally unhelpful. Or again, I've heard of graduate students in a given school who passed cartoons and jokes round the room, much to their amusement, and the professor's indignation. And, of course, to the waste of a good part of the class hour for all concerned.

Time can never be brought back. An hour carelessly or thoughtlessly spent is gone, never to be recaptured. An hour used well brings satisfaction, and a feeling of thankfulness. Sometimes I think that the feeling of being tired after a full day is a reason for thanksgiving all its own - what if you hadn't the day or the strength?

Among the gifts God entrusts to us are abilities. Talents, if you will. To each some ability: whether it be the mother who, whether baking a pie or putting a patch on well worn jeans so manages her household that "sunshine" is present even on rainy days - that's a gift! Or the person who has not only learned his job, but has learned as well how to be a "good person to be with" on the job - that's a gift. To some is given the gift of song to others the gift of appreciative listening. To some is given the gift of teaching, to others the gift of putting that teaching to use. To some is given the gift of administering, to others the gift of working out the directions as a part of the team, and so getting the job done. And so on and on it goes ... when God's gifts are used, and used thankfully. When we utilize to the fullest every opportunity and task, our world is benefited, we ourselves are helped, and God is praised.

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