The circle

As I write this, I hear sounds of my friends upstairs. They are laughing and swearing and eating and drinking, and it is a comfort to me to hear the sounds of their life - of our life - drifting down the stairs. They all got on trains and buses today, and walked up Alexander Avenue and through our door bearing pies and wine and hearts full of thanks. And we did the traditional "go around the circle and share one thing you're thankful for" thing, and had a chance to remember that our lives are infused with blessings. We did some damage to a 23 lb turkey, complimented one another's cooking, spiked the eggnog and broke off into small conversations in the presence of one another. We are doing our best to be family to each other, in the absence of our actual families we are making room for God to form family among us. This is a good thing.

Today I am thankful for the unexpected... for the hope that something I can't predict will occur and shake my world. I am thankful that my God is a God who interjects himself into the course of my life in ways I never saw coming, and changes my attitude towards what's in front of me. I am thankful that my finite perspective is not reality, and that I am not in control. I am thankful that my God knows what I need when I don't, and provides it for me in ways I wouldn't even have asked for.

I now look forward to a long weekend of leftovers and spontaneous outings and naps and reading and flannel sheets.