OMG, it’s the end of November, where has the time gone?

My Wikipedia search found in October 1621, the new colonists to America, the Pilgrims celebrated what became known as the “First Thanksgiving.”

Before coming to America they had regularly celebrated their “thanksgivings” — it was not a new practice. Days of prayer to thank God for their many blessings were common for them.

What blessings are you grateful for this year?

It’s been a pretty different year! Do you know astrologers watch how planets line up and where they are placed? Many actually looked ahead at the year 2020 and long ago knew it was going to be a year of turmoil. They didn’t know what would happen, only that it would be a year with a whole lot going on.

Most people, I know, have had a lot going on. It’s like the year that has challenged us. Emotions like confusion, mistrust, fear, worry, overwhelm, frustration, sadness and more have been dominant for many.

Being spiritual people living in this physical world, we need our faith stronger than those emotions.

It’s not always an easy task to have faith when experiencing turmoil. In some way, all of us have had to deal with a few different challenges this year. There were plenty: physical or financial health, home repairs, online education, working from home, empty store shelves, wedding cancellations, employment and economic issues and more.

Yep, this is our life: a whole lot going on and we’re all doing our best to make it the best it can be.

For clarity — God doesn’t create drama in the world we live in. Our free-will choices create our experiences.

When we choose between different options we are choosing how our lives will go. The next step in our lives is always our choice; we create our reactions to life. The circumstances that follow is ours to figure out and to do our best with.

Life is like a school for soul development and our choices give us the opportunity to grow and learn from life. There is never a right or wrong choice, just possibilities for our souls to learn from.

When the Pilgrims left Europe in the 1600’s, they made a choice to board a ship and travel to a new land. They probably had to think long and hard about making that decision.

Almost 400 years later and not much in human life has changed. We still make our choices and live out the consequences of those choices. Time hasn’t found any short cuts or perfect pattern to live the perfect life.

Try this, close your eyes and imagine yourself on a big long calendar of dates. You are standing on Nov. 22, 2020. As you look all the way back to January 1, 2020, it’s been a pretty heavy year!

Looking back, can you feel the crazy energy of this year? Is there a smile on your face, are you feeling energetic or are you feeling kinda, blah, blah, blah?

A spiritual life calls us to become aware of those feelings that keep us from enjoying life or difficult to make it the best it can be. Change life’s challenges by using your spiritual tools. There is no time to ever let go of spiritual learning and teachings. Not even when challenged or overwhelmed. That is the time to make a new choice!

Do you live life’s challenges without spiritual teachings? When you attend church on Sundays or weekly chat meetings, it opens your mind to better ways to live. That is a choice. The teachings will not stop life from happening or make your life perfect.

Oh no, it’s going to be more like the “first Thanksgiving.” You must do the work of reaching out and being connected. Hearing and learning spiritual teachings will make your life easier and the best it can be.

You will always find new places and new things. Like the Pilgrims who brought their old ways and traditions from Europe, you will bring your old life with you too. Each endeavor you decide to go on you will show up just as you are.

It is my prayer that you will always search for spiritual tools and people who will help you to learn and grow spiritually. These will make whatever you choose in life easier, more fulfilling and less challenging, thank God every day!

This Thanksgiving we celebrate differently, but you’re here! It’s November! 2020 is almost over, you made it! Have faith, affirm life, peace and joy is yours, and make it the best it can be!

A Psalm for giving thanks — Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:1-5 (ESV)

Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings,

Linda La Croix