A trip through rural Abbotsford this week reminded me once again that it’s October. Harvest time for thousands of pumpkins. It inspired some reflection on the idea that two totally different October events are connected by the pumpkin.
So, half those pumpkins get turned into pie and half of them get turned into jack-o-lanterns.
Now, I’m no pumpkin expert or any kind of horticulturist but I doubt there’s any difference between pie pumpkins and scary candle-holder pumpkins. Yet one helps us celebrate thankfulness and another helps us celebrate fright night.
It reminds me that it is in our power to make of things what we choose. Two people who are dealt similar hands in life often end up in contrasting situations. They’ve chosen to do different things with the resources available. And it is those choices that can lead to situations for which we can be truly grateful or others which are pretty scary.
When I reflect on life, though, it seems to me that (most) everyone can find something to be grateful for. Even if our paths have reached an unhappy place (which, I’m glad to say, mine has not). Consider the quote I recently saw: “On particularly rough days, when I’m sure I can’t possibly endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100%. And that’s pretty good.” Now that’s finding a thankful place in the midst of the toughest challenge!
Thankfully, most of us aren’t there. But regardless where we’re at, let’s take this season to remind ourselves of the things we can be thankful for.
Here are some of the things I’m reminding myself of: good health; a comfortable home; a loving family; grandbabies (you want to see some pictures?); friends; opportunities to travel; freedom to be my own boss; clients who move into their chosen home; opportunities to volunteer and to serve others; opportunities to be stretched and grow; books to read; colleagues with whom I can interact; nature (especially mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and fall colours); freedom to write what I want; my canoe; my PhD socks (you can get them at REI in Bellingham); that our housing market is so much better than our US neighbours’; hockey.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Ron Geddert
