Thanksgiving 2020 – Gratitude Check
MESSAGE FROM  NACFM PRESIDENT GARY ROBINSON

As Church Facility Managers, we are entering what is normally our busiest time of year. After months of planning, the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays are upon us. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. I like Thanksgiving’s origin, its past, and its present. The meaning of Thanksgiving is one of the foundations of our relationship to Christ, thanking the one from whom all blessings flow. When I think of Thanksgiving, my mind is flooded with memories of friends, family, food, and traditions. This year will be different.

Many areas of the country are still restricting the number of people that can gather. One state limits the number of households that can gather to three. For many, the ride “Over the river and through the wood, to Grandmother’s house we go” is being replaced by a Zoom call this year. Don’t get me wrong; Zoom, Skype and Facetime are great ways to keep in touch with those we can’t visit as often as we'd like. Still, they can’t replace the smell of your Grandmother’s kitchen or the feel of an enthusiastic hug.

For churches, this Thanksgiving will be like no other. Our Constitution is being ignored as strict limits on church gatherings are still in place. Even in the states where the restrictions are not as strict, holiday gatherings are difficult due to social distancing. Church Facility Managers are working harder to accommodate and protect the faithful. It would be easy to succumb to the stress the pandemic has brought to our homes and churches. These are strange times indeed, but God’s word guides and comforts us.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  - Philippians 4: 4-7

I believe in the attitude of gratitude. When I focus on what I am grateful for, it is hard to be depressed about this mess we find ourselves in. For some, they have or need a written list that they refer to. I find that my list is too long and changes too often to write down. Also, local law enforcement frowns on reading lists while driving, which is one of my prime times to express my thankfulness. It’s amazing how much the stress of driving is reduced by thanking the Lord for the guy that cut me off or the lady that does 30 mph in 50 mph zone. A spirit of gratitude elevates our attitude.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” -  Melody Beattie

I won’t bore you with my full list for today, but here are a few at the top of my list;

   • I am a redeemed child of the Most High God
   • The National Association of Church Facility Managers
   • The Godly men and women of the NACFM
   • I can worship my Lord freely
   • I am loved
   • The Presidential Election will be over soon

It is so easy for us to get caught up in the nuts and bolts process of preparing our houses of worship for the holidays. I have found that it is necessary to take an intentional approach in my personal enjoyment of the holidays. Please do not take these opportunities for family and fellowship for granted. The pandemic is a grim reminder that there is no guarantee of tomorrow. Cherish this time.

Lord, I am grateful for these men and women who serve you. Their dedication comes with a cost to them and their families, as they serve others. Bless their time with friends and family. Let them leave work at work so they can enjoy this time of fellowship and recharge their minds and bodies to serve you. It is in the sweet name of Jesus that I ask these things. Amen

Enjoy the holidays my Brothers and Sisters in Christ. And be Thankful! 
Gary Robinson 
NACFM President