By Will Nordmark, Spiritual Reflections

In God’s world life goes on in ways that we come to think of as ordinary and natural. The rain comes and the sun shines and plants grow and we are gifted with food. Babies are born and people die -- it is the cycle of life.

More often than not, the rains come at the right time and human beings grow into old age. When too much rain falls at the wrong time or not enough moisture comes when it is needed crops are stunted or lost. People die prematurely from disease or accidents or war. We do not live in a perfect world and life is not always fair.

We have just finished celebrating our national holiday of Thanksgiving. As people of faith, whatever our tradition, we are to give thanks at all times for all blessings, because they come from God. I hope you have taken a few moments during your Thanksgiving celebration to give thanks for all that you have. I mention some things to be thankful for with the fear I am omitting many important things: God’s love, the earth, Jesus, Allah, Buddha (whatever your faith tradition), democracy, free elections, water and abundance of food, health, family and friends, education and you can fill in the rest.

How do we give thanks? With just a quick thanks to God or a nod in God’s direction? Can we receive all the blessings that we have without responding, without reaching out to the larger community and giving back? Or do we think that we are entitled to all that we have because of ... our citizenship or faith or our smarts?

God blessed Abram and Sarai so that they would be a blessing to others. Jesus teaches us to “love our neighbors as ourselves.” Authentic thanks cannot be done without it touching others. How do you live out your thanks in your daily lives?

 (Rev. Will Nordmark is pastor at St. James Lutheran Church in Burnsville. He is one of several area pastors who write columns for “Spiritual Reflections,” a column that is one of several opinion and commentary pieces appearing regularly in this newspaper.)