A Stranger's Smile
Thanksgiving's Hidden Lesson
November 27, 2024 - Vol. 17, Issue 49
😍 Welcome to Eyes on Christ, my weekly Wednesday newsletter. 🎧 Eyes on Christ can also be listened to on the Substack app. As always, thanks for reading or listening.
I’m fighting the flu this Thanksgiving week (to be expected after a month of travels!) and despite the fallen leaves that need gathering and the fruit that must be harvested, our garden continues to enchant me. I tried to get some grocery shopping done, but the world outside felt raucous and unattractive. So, instead, I’m nourishing my healing body with literature and nature—finding comfort and sustenance in the garden while trying to write poetry, once again.
If you've ever felt swept up in the holiday chaos, losing sight of what truly matters, this week's piece is for you. I’m looking past the clutter of daily living and finding quietness in the Hawaiian orange hibiscus blooms, the guavas, lemons, oranges, and kumquats, the fragrant lavender, and the roses. The symbolism of the rose—delicate, full of life, and often associated with gratitude and beauty—perfectly mirrors this week's exploration of finding peace in life's most hectic moments.