24 November - "Thanks Living"

Today was Thanksgiving Day in the US, and our first major holiday overseas.  Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, so in Germany it was another day of normal routine and activity.  But for us it was very special.  We had some business to take care of early in the day, so we walked down to the city center.  It was our first visit to the Weihnactsmarkt (Christmas Market).  All throughout the Marketplace in front of the Castle, artisans have set up booths where they sell leather and wood crafts, clothing, hats and scarves, food and drink.  There are rides for the kids, pine boughs and flowers, candles and toys.  It was great.  Of course, the best time to see the Markt is in the evening, when the lights are on, so we will need to make another trip - we will probably make many trips!

After walking around the Market, and visiting with some local farmers, artists and craftsmen, we went to visit our insurance salesman.  We have mentioned Herr Beck before.  He is a delightful man who had previously sold us our car insurance.  We wanted to get "renter's insurance" for the contents of our flat.  We went in for a brief meeting, and ended up spending about an hour and a half with him.  It was not because of any inefficiency - we were simply sharing and enjoying each other's company! 

We talked about so much.  Hans asked what the story was behind American Thanksgiving.  He was fascinated and surprised by both the spiritual overtones - being thankful to God, and the historoical context - the Native Americans and early settlers sharing a meal of thanks together.  We also discussed a wide range of topics - rural and urban living in the US and Germany, travel on Highways versus back roads, cars (he is restoring an old Mercedes Benz), business and lifestyles in the US and Germany.  We also got around to talking about spiritual matters...the difference between "religion" and "relationship," how we can make our spiritual lives, and our churches relevant and meaningful instead of inapplicable and insignificant.  We actually talked with him into his lunch hour, and when we apologized, he said, "No, please don't apologize, I enjoy our conversations!  I feel like I can talk freely with you!"  It was really nice.  He speaks great English to Carol, and helps me with my Germany by speaking, and requiring me to speak German. 

After that meeting we walked back to our flat, where we continued to unpack boxes from our US shipment, which arrived on Wednesday.  (Which is why we did not post yesterday - we were exhausted!)  The delivery came on two pallets that had been well wrapped, and most everything arrived in great shape.  We had one small picture with broken glass, and one wall hanging with a damaged frame - but it was very minor.  Before the driver of the delivery truck had even gotten out of the cab, our friend, Orhan, from the restaurant on the ground floor, was at my side, saying, "Ich will sie helfen!"  His help was (perhaps literally) a life-saver!  Carrying the boxes, some weighing more than 60 pounds up two flights of stairs was a daunting task!  But it was complete in short order, and we began to unpack and place our clothes, wall hangings and kitchen items around the apartment. 

It was such an interesting experience to unload items from our home in the US that we had not seen since the end of July.  We were thrilled to open the box with our winter coats and sweaters!  We were not so thrilled with the boxes of dishes and flatware (our friends her had provided both for us when we arrived.)  The familiarity of blankets and pillows, pictures and wall-hangings - even favorite coffee mugs - make the place feel more like home.

At 5:00 our new friends Kristen and Steven came over, and we spent about an hour catching up with them before heading over to the Maxwell's for our Thanksgiving dinner.  Our regular Thursday night Bible study group gathered for a traditional meal.  A beautiful turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, cranberries, pecan pie and pumpkin roll, with a side of PACKER football, and great friends, made for a delightful evening.  There were about 20 people in attendance.  We had a chance to share the gospel very directly with a girl who was concerned about doing something bad and going to hell.  I explained that our eternal destiny in hell or heaven is not determined by our good or bad deeds - we can't be good enough!  Only by our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus - and the love of God who sent His only Son to pay the penalty for our sins can we be certain of our eternal home.  When we trust Him as our Lord, our focus changes - we don't worry about not doing the bad - but we focus on doing the right - pleasing our Father in heaven, and "living a life worthy of the calling we have received" as His children.  Pray for her.  That the Holy Spirit will be at work in her young heart.

As I reflect on it, what more is there to be thankful for on this day than the salvation we have in Christ?  Obviously, nothing else comes close. 

"Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky."

~Frederick Lehman