I wanted something to talk on for Thanksgiving and ran into the following verses when I was looking for the one verse about giving thanks, “for this is the will of God for you.” I saw the other verses leading up to it and realized this was just what we all needed to hear right now. So I decided to make this my Thanksgiving gift to us all.

Live in peace with one another. We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek what is good for one another and for all people. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5:13-18)

These words are full of encouragement and instruction about the kinds of attitudes and behavior that will help us get along in these divisive days.  Here in the United States, with Thanksgiving traditions upon us, our good intentions are getting stretched thin. As Brian Zahnd, our podcast guest this week declared, “Politics trumps everything.” And what’s being trumped today, for many, is the most celebrated family day of the year. I know there will be empty seats at many tables today because political disagreements have trumped tradition.

“If anyone I know voted for the other guy, I’m cutting them off. That’s it; the relationship is done; we have nothing to talk about.” Have you heard that, or something like it, from anyone? I have.

A dear friend of ours and one of our leaders here at the Catch told us they had a good friend who announced something similar when they declared that they were going to have to distance themselves from Susie and Sam (names have been changed to protect their privacy) because of how they voted in the recent election. “Politics trumps everything.”

Marti, feeling the need to encourage our friends wrote, “I cannot imagine anyone choosing to distance themselves from Susie and Sam. No one represents service like they do, often giving beyond measure.  If there were such a thing as frequent flyer miles to heaven, they both would be going first class. Anyone who “distances” themselves from any member of this family has not had the opportunity to have their feet under the their dinner table and hear their prayers of thanksgiving for those they care for on a daily basis in a multiple number of third world countries and in their own community’s backyard. I am proud to call Susie and Sam my dear friends. If you ask me who I voted for, I  voted for, and will continue to vote for, the Lord that they serve with their gracious and generous hearts.”

There you have something trumping politics — the way it should be. Our priorities need to be straightened out. Hopefully, everyone will be around your table today who belongs there because we are learning to live at peace with one another.

Getting along with people with whom we disagree is indeed challenging but not impossible. When I was dating Marti, I walked in on a religious debate with an atheist who lived in her apartment complex and instead of taking a side, the Holy Spirit said to me Find out where you agree. I was amazed that it worked. We were able to find some common ground — something we could agree on and it diffused the tension.

I urge you to take these verses to heart and act on them today. These are exactly the kinds of attitudes we need to foster to combat the factions that are pulling apart our families, our churches and our nation. Whatever you do, don’t let these factions into the kingdom of God. They don’t belong there because the kingdom of God trumps everything.

Let nothing disturb you

Let nothing frighten you

All things are passing away

God never changes

Patience obtains all things

Whoever has God lacks nothing

God alone suffices

     St Teresa of Avila

For more on this theme, listen to my Thanksgiving message from church last Sunday by clicking on facebook.com/thecatch and scrolling down to the first video.