thankful

And now for a moment or two. A moment where I can collect myself briefly, to forget myself, my needs, my eternal wish list of how I want life to play out, and look around me to see what I am thankful for.

I am thankful for a job. I am thankful that I have a purpose on this earth. I am thankful for seasons. All four of them, actually. I am thankful for the way that warmth works. How it slowly travels through your body at certain times. When you come in from the cold. When you climb under a blanket. When you hear that song that you love.

I am thankful for this time of year. Specifically, I mean from the dates of October 31st through January 1st. I see that from Halloween we begin something of a training camp for the Holidays. We're all thinking about, but we don't want to say anything about it because it is just too soon and that would somehow take away the magic. Then the cups at Starbucks turn red. I know this sounds very commercial, but I'm serious. When that happens, we hit the preseason. And then on Thanksgiving it is time to let yourself go. We are here. Turn on the silly radio stations.

I am thankful for coffee. It is about more than just caffeine. It is about that spark that leads to great conversations. The types of conversations that lead to the types of ideas that change the way we approach the world, the way we engage it. I'm thankful for those of you that love coffee and love to drink it from Octane.

I am thankful for language. For the way that our words have power. How we can exercise a tremendous amount of influence in people's lives if we so choose. I am thankful for the growing wisdom that this is a big deal and it isn't to be taken lightly.

I am thankful for the people that have chosen to encourage me throughout the years. The ones who believed in me, who saw the spark of God's breath in me. The ones that chose to build me up and not tear me down.

With that, I am thankful for the mentors. All the guys who were brothers and fathers to me while I had none of my own.

I am thankful for the Fortunato's. You are family. For the McAfee's. For the Bachelor's. For the Hale's. Watching you live is heaven on earth.

I am thankful for a little ministry on Techwood Drive. For a two story brick house that is at the epicenter of what God is doing with college students. I am thankful for the people that come through, grow up, and give their lives for a man who lived 2000 years ago. Rick-one day we will write books about you like you have written about your father.

I am thankful for those friends of mine that are like my family. For those that are flung all over the world from England to Spain to Mexico to Chile. I am never lonely because I walk with you in my soul.

I am thankful for my grandmother, Nana. You showed us the way. You have given everything and you have not backed down. You will dance in heaven.

I am thankful for my mother. For her pure, true love for me. For her brokenness and her willingness to provide.

I am thankful that my white Honda named Hedwig runs well with 222,000 miles on her. Keep flyin' Hedwig. Keep on flyin'.

I am thankful for the late nights and the early mornings. For the meals that we cooked together. For how I helped you do that thing and how you helped me do that other thing. I am thankful that you, friend, always keep coming back. How you show me grace by putting up with me. How you are the hands and feet of Jesus for me.

I am thankful that we are not all of one political party.

I am thankful for that couch in our office that I keep telling everyone about over and over again.

I am thankful that we get to be part of something that transcends time and space. I am thankful that the feeling you get in your gut, that feeling of discontent and the urge to change the world is no cliche. It is not merely wishful thinking. It is happening. Everything is changing. I am thankful that I can feel it in the air.

I am thankful for the rain. Weather in general. I am thankful for the Tison's and the lake. For the England Team. Laughing with Buck. Getting calls from Mae asking how my love life is going or if something worked out.

I am thankful for Keight and her wit.

I am thankful for Jesse and his ability to be just about perfect at damn nearly everything. I celebrate you.

I am thankful for Lukas. Best Man, wedding or no wedding.

I am thankful for these guys that I've lived with in our little Hobbit Hole over the past few months.

I am thankful for Molly and her endless encouragement. You don't know how that keeps me going.

I am thankful that people that believe in Jesus are beginning to engage the poor.

Books. letters. Textersations/convotexts.

I could go on.

I am thankful that I have wonder. That I do not have the answers. That I do not really know all that much but at the end of the day I am absolutely mystified by color and sound and the glory of a good back rub.

I am thankful for all those kids at Starr's Mill, Whitewater and over at the church. This has been a longer ride than I thought and its not time to get off yet.

For all the cliches that I forgot to mention-I am sorry. I'm going to wake up in a few hours, read this, and then immediately feel embarrassed.

So finally, I am thankful for the boldness to love this breath of life.

-jt.