What is your name?

“My name is Rory. What’s yours?”

It was a really special morning with my little boy, this Thanksgiving. Having been sent home with three full bags of well packed leftovers from St. Stephen's, Maple, last night, we decided to go for a walk and see if anyone needed a meal. Unfortunately, living downtown makes this task far too easy to accomplish. But within minutes of being out the door, Rory walked straight up to a lady sitting on the curb, and said, “My name is Rory. What’s yours?” Smiles and pleasantries were exchanged, and Rory explained how we were at a church dinner last night and had some extra meals we couldn’t eat – and asked if she would like one. I think each person we met appreciated the kindness and charm of my little four-year-old boy as much as they were grateful for food, and I’m certain the gift each of them gave Rory far surpassed any delight I may have felt in offering charity that would make me feel good about myself.

This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the rich and the poor, the comfortable and the marginalized, and the peaks and valleys of life. But most of all, I am grateful for the faith I have in God’s coming Kingdom where there is a banquet table prepared for us all. A feast so plentiful that all will eat, and a community so connected, no name will ever have to be asked or declared; because God’s abundance will triumph over our hoarding and scarcity, and our divided lines will be erased by the salvation of God.

#Thanksgiving #CountingBlessings #Fatherhood

Oringally penned by David: Canadian Thanksgiving 2018