Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18a NRSV)

As a college history major, I still like to ask myself from time to time: "Which historical figure would you like to join these days for dinner and conversation?" Recently, the British writer G.K. Chesterton has come to mind. He's the kind of person one could have some fun with. He had the reputation for exuding a blessed and joy-filled Christian orthodoxy.
 
Chesterton once wrote in one of his notebooks:

You say grace before meals.
All right.
But I say grace before the play and the opera
   nd grace before I open a book,
   and grace before sketching, painting,
      swimming, fencing, boxing, walking,
      playing, dancing;
   and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.

Say grace before a movie? Before a swim? Before signing up for ballroom dancing lessons? Before the next round of UNO? Before checking to see what's ripe in the garden today? Before doing the dishes?
 
Why not! Grace is not confined to mealtime. The gifts and blessings from God are all around. With the encouragement of Chesterton, try giving thanks to God in a variety of circumstances today.

Let us pray. . .,
God of unlimited giving and forgiving, stir us to rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all circumstances. Amen

Contributed by Pastor Dan
Sunday August 1, 2010
Liturgical Year C Week 36
Sunday Gospel reading:
Lectionary 18 (Proper 13)
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost