Pastor’s Corner

Get involved

There used to be a famous wrestler who had the tagline before he would “wrestle” saying: “Do you smell what’s cooking?” Of course he was referring to his mix of Emmy-level drama and athletic endeavor known as NWA Wrestling.

Yet if I ask the same question this time of year the answer is always the same.

Turkey, ham, dressing, pecan pie, mashed potatoes and other wonderful delicacies that we identify with Thanksgiving. I can still remember as a boy that my grandmother would begin baking several days before the big day and the smells and the aroma of Thanksgiving would begin to assault my senses.

My wife still does the very same thing. Even now she is asking us what we want for Thanksgiving dinner. I do not know why she asks, because she prepares everything it seems like every year. However, Thanksgiving is not just about eating. There is so much more to be thankful for: friends, family, faith and freedom just to name a few.

However, do you realize that when you sit down to Thanksgiving dinner this year, even if your table is not as eclectic or as sumptuous as described above, that you will still be enjoying a meal that two-thirds of the world will never enjoy. The truth is that there are still literally millions who die every year due to malnutrition and even starvation. It is hard to believe that in a world that has so much, that there could be people who have nothing.

Even in our own prosperous area of northwest Arkansas there are folks who will not have anything to eat this year. They are just getting by the best they can.

I know it is easy to say that maybe there should be a greater emphasis on self reliance or work ethic.

I have heard folks say the often quoted Scriptureverse, which is not even in the Bible “God helps those who helps themselves” and I will even agree that there are those circumstances where a lot of people find themselves in tough circumstances simply because of a poor choice or choices on their part. You will get no argument from me. I will reply however by simply asking what does that have to do with a hungry child or family? Jesus said that we would have the poor with us always. It is just a fact that there will always be a need to feed folks who need some help.

I am not saying this for any other reason than to simply remind us all that in the midst of a very tough economy, in the midst of foreclosures, financial failures, soaring retail prices and economic uncertainty, for the vast majority of us, this Thanksgiving holiday will afford us the opportunity to be very grateful and thankful for God’s blessings in our lives. If you have a home, a car and three warm meals a day you are wealthier than half of the world. Again, don’t feel guilty, feel grateful! Perhaps your being grateful will move you to the point of being helpful.

If you would like to help out with hunger in our community your area local churches and feeding organizations can get you connected and busy. Get involved, help some folks out and enjoy all that God has blessed you with this Thanksgiving season!

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Editor’s note: Jack Maddox is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Garfield.

Follow him on his blog at www.wordpress.jackmaddox.com, or e-mail him at [email protected].

Church, Pages 2 on 11/16/2011