Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday November 25, 2008

On Saturday of last week, I was a guest on the New Century Publishing's program "Publisher's Notes." Local TV and Radio Talk show host Abdul Shabazz is co-host of the weekly program and I enjoyed the banter and the chance to promote my new book, "Lasting Friendships in 30 Days" published by New Centuries subsidiary, Birchwood Press. I really think Mr. Shabazz has a great future in broadcasting when he comes out of his shell.

During the course of the hour long program the Thanksgiving holiday came up and we all agreed that we Americans have much to be thankful for, not the least being our freedom. Dave Caswell, President of New Century suggested making a list of things for which we are thankful. This was a golden opportunity to talk about my book, so I posited that any list of things for which we are thankful would list "friends" somewhere near the top. Everyone agreed, even guest David Stevens from California who immediately placed an order for my book. Deep inside most people really would like to BE a better friend and I wrote the book to help people learn how to BE a better friend. If it succeeds I will then write a follow up book on how to BE an even better friend.

I was impressed with the different ideas about Thanksgiving and the near reverence each held for the day. I was the only clergyperson on the program, so I stayed aware of the thin ice on which I was walking as I'm certain each of the men expected a bare knuckled, fiery condemnatory proclamation of how certain heathens needed a better grasp of the holiday. I tried to put each at ease and mostly failed, but I did try. Mr. Shabazz makes an occasional attempt at distancing himself from the radical wing of Islam which is probably an embarrassment to him, and being an embarrassment to many Christians myself, I think I know how he feels. I had heard him say on a TV program that although he is a Muslim, he likes fine Cuban Cigars and Jack Daniels. So in my effort to pull him out of his shell, I remarked, "A Muslim who likes Cuban Cigars and Jack Daniels is my favorite kind." He retorted, "And a Baptist preacher who would like Cuban Cigars and Jack Daniels would be my favorite kind." Well, as you might guess I spent the rest of the program trying to find some other statement to put my host at ease. As I said, he will come out of his shell.

We mostly talked about family and the fun or torment of the holidays. I identify with the torment part. Holidays are not my bag as I find the hustle and bustle and everything has to be just right over the top. Why not load up and go out to one of fancy buffets at the nice downtown hotels and forget the stress? But, alas the Lord has placed me in a family setting that loves the very things that torment me. The stories I could tell about each holiday you can name would lead straight to the divorce court were I to ever put pen to paper and name names and events.

I do like President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's line on Thanksgiving:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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