“Social distancing.” It’s a new and unwelcomed term that we’ve all been recently forced to learn and, now, to practice. As COVID-19 spreads like wildfire around the world, medical authorities tell us it’s time to physically distance ourselves from others and to avoid all large public gatherings. Since this highly contagious virus can be spread by individuals with no apparent symptoms, the only way to attempt containment is for all of us to keep a “safe” physical distance of six feet from non-family members.

Do you ever feel like George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life? As though life just hasn’t worked out according to your dreams, as though everything you’ve tried to accomplish has seemed to fall just short? Does everyone else’s “highlight reel” on Instagram or Facebook makes your life look like mediocrity in grainy black and white by comparison? 

The truth is, most of us feel that way at times. At least I know that I do. How about you?

Happy Thanksgiving!
 
In just a few days, we will be gathering with family and friends for this wonderful annual feast, enjoying turkey and dressing and all the “fixings” and being grateful, once again, for pants with elastic waistbands.
 
But what about the real reason for the celebration? It’s not uncommon for more Thanksgiving time and energy to be spent on the creation of Black Friday shopping lists than on thanking God for His many blessings.

Today, we celebrate “Veterans Day” in America. I’m so thankful that our nation still affirms and highlights our Veterans on this day every year. Amazingly, we haven’t changed the actual day of remembrance to accommodate a three-day weekend, and we don’t merely associate Veterans Day with the reason to have a barbeque or mattress sale or to begin a season like we do with Memorial Day.

 We stop and say “thank you” to those heroes who selflessly served or are still serving our nation, as well we should.