Reading: Thessalonians 5.16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.
Sermon: “The attitude of Gratitude. “
“ The Skies of September as so blue, so blue, “ this is what we sang in the beautiful September Song a moment ago. It is one of the most beloved Fall songs in Denmark, and it is because it so precisely captures what September can be in Denmark – well in all of Scandinavia!
Blue skies, clear skies, drifting white clouds, and clean air in our lungs! And perhaps a wind that goes through clothing and bones. And perhaps a rainstorm or two, - but mostly blue, blue skies.
This song is about September on a calm Sunday morning. On a Sunday Morning like that, you have time to truly see the colors of not only the blue blue sky but also of the flowers, the leaves, the trees – and you sense all of this because it is Sunday – with no plans or stress other than to enjoy the moment and drive to church!
On such a September Sunday it is time for reflection on life and the meaning of life.
The song tells us that we all have senses: we can all see, listen, smell, and taste. The sky is blue, the birds sing, the leaves are changing colors, and we smell the changing season …..
If any of you have been to Denmark this past summer, yes in Scandinavia, you will know that the summer has been amazing: sunshine, high temperatures, and hardly any rainy days. My family and I visited Denmark in August and even drove by the bridge to Malmo Sweden and up the coast to Helsingfors. Every day in the Sunshine! * Even if I remember the joke about Summer in Sweden was on a Tuesday!
When fall begins in September, it is good to know that the skies are still blue, even if the rest of the colors might change. When the bright summer nights are over, it feels safe that the sky remains blue. Yes, bluer than ever.
The blue skies of September become a comfort in the fall when we know the seasons are changing and colder winds are coming our way.
Even here in CA the skies are bluer in Fall: maybe not as the heatwave batter us and make us look only for AC or a swim in the ocean. Maybe not when we detect too much smoke as the wildfires burn.
But September skies in California is also a call for us to look up and … be grateful.
Our famous Danish philosopher, Soren Kierkegaard, loved the time of fall. Even if he spent most of his short life writing at his productive desk in the city of Copenhagen, he cherished the changing seasons. He even wrote praise to Fall and praised Fall as the time of colors, the time of movement, and passion. And I truly appreciate his words about fall as he wrote: "Why I so much prefer autumn to spring is that in the autumn one looks at heaven--in the spring at the earth."--Søren Kierkegaard
At harvest time we do look up at the beautiful skies. Even more to look to God with gratitude as we give thanks for the fruits of the harvest.
We should exercise to look up more as it changes our perspective and attitude: we get a wider perspective, a divine perspective, when we conder the heavenly generosity that colors our world and our days in ways we too often forget to give thanks for.
"Why I so much prefer autumn to spring is that in the autumn one looks at heaven--in the spring at the earth."--
We see the drifting clouds of fall, and we let our thoughts drift too. Harvest time and fall are the time of thoughts, reflections, and gratitude.
To be grateful and to be generous is the deepest characteristic of the holy, and because we are made in God's image, our gratitude and generosity are the secrets to our joy as well.
Generosity is the deepest characteristic of the holy. That we share. That we care. That we look beyond our skills, situation, or comfort.
Look up at the blue skies that are blue for you and me and shared with divine generosity.
Be aware of the generosity and the grace that meets you.
Today we celebrate Harvest.
It calls for gratitude, generosity, happiness, service, and joy.
So today as we look at the crops of harvest, the bread, the fruit, and the corn – we are reminded of the workers who picked the fruit, harvested the corn, and worked many hours at the vineyards, orchards, the farms.
We give thanks for the work of their hands, and we give thanks for the abundance of blessings we are blessed with.
And then we look up – to give thanks, for rain and sunshine, for generosity and grace, and for a divine presence in our lives and days that instills gratitude and generosity in us.
Try to remember the last time you looked up to the endless skies of blue and the sense of grace hit your heart and you knew you must share and care.
September’s skies are so blue. Let this color paint our days with gratitude, generosity, happiness, service, and faith.
So, remember to look up!
Remember to give thanks!
Remember to count your blessings: daily bread, friends, family, church, songs, music, your loved ones, - that you breathe this wonderful day in September. Let us say it together: Thank you. Tak. Amen.