My “go to” form of exercise is a three-mile walk.  It helps me to unwind.  It also gives me time to listen to some of my favorite podcasts – one of them being Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History.  One evening in late May, set out for a walk at Loose Park.  On this particular evening, I walked from our home to the park and made my first loop.  As I was starting my second loop, I felt a snap in my right knee.  It literally stopped me in my tracks.  I could no longer stride with my right leg.  Rather, the best that I could do was toe-tap walk.  Margaret was in Wichita at the time and was a few hours from being home.  I could call her to come and pick me up but that meant sitting at the park for longer than I cared to.  A little panicked and not thinking clearly, I toe-tapped it all the way home which is about a quarter mile at most.  Luckily, I know a certain orthopedic surgeon so I called him.  He advised that I make an appointment at the urgent care at his facility.  I did and after a visit and an MRI, they told me that I had torn my right meniscus at the root.  A few months later, I had surgery on it, did some physical therapy, and had injections as well.  It is much better now than what it was on that fateful day in late May. 

I am lucky.  Yes that I know an orthopedic surgeon but more to the point, I have health insurance.  I could make appointments, get tests, have surgery, go to follow up appointments, and more without considering what I would have to give up because of my medical needs.  In addition, my out of pocket expense was more than manageable.  Thankfully, I am not dependent on Doctors Without Borders or the folks that spend a week operating on Mercy Ships.  I am grateful that I am not a resident of a country that does not have quality health care or that relies upon the compassion and generosity of volunteer organizations and individuals.  I am fortunate that I have access to quality health care and the insurance to help cover the expense.

There is a hymn titled “Count Your Blessings.”  The chorus says “count your blessings, name them one by one.  County your many blessings, see what God hath done.”  Easier said than done.  Unfortunately, we are inundated with negative news and information.  Our media, in all its forms, focuses on what troubles or divides us, or what tantalizes our need for the salacious.  They play to our lesser nature not for our good but for their ratings.  They fill segments with things that attract eyeballs like a multi-car pile-up on the highway.  I think the side effect of this is a soul that is anxious and burdened by worry.  Additionally, this suppresses our ability to see our blessings and be thankful. 

Thanksgiving is naturally a season to pause and intentionally reflect upon all the blessings in our lives.  As families and friends, we gather around the table and stuff ourselves like a . . . turkey.  We over indulge on food, sweets, naps, and football.  Nevertheless, we may also take time to be profoundly thankful.  If only we could do this more often during the year than one late November Thursday.   

I invite you to take time and read each of the scriptures above as you move to reflect on the questions below.  Consider your practice of counting your blessings and being thankful.  Lastly, I pray that God bless the reading of God’s Word and the meditations of your heart.