There is a scene that is played out on Thanksgiving Day in homes all across America. You might have observed it or even participated in it just a few short days ago.

The turkey has been carved and eaten. The sides have been mauled. The meal that took hours to prepare has been devoured and there is a movement that begins to take place.

There is a grand exodus from the dining room table to the living room. Comfy chairs and sofas are sought after, feet are propped up, and a tryptophan-induced coma sweeps over everyone. Sound familiar?

There is something about a belly full of turkey and all the fixings, plus the rest of the day set aside for relaxation, that really leaves you content in the moment. For a little while you are at peace and the situation suits you to do no more other than to dwell in the moment and enjoy it.

We need moments like these. Times set aside to be thankful to God for the many blessings He has given us. Times to rest and push the stresses of the world to the side. We savor these times and don’t want to leave them.

We want to cling to them with all of our strength, and yet, we cannot go on in that blissful existence for a great length of time. Bills need to be paid, groceries need to be bought and work must be attended to in order to earn a living.

We understand this is the way that things are. The contented rest must be put on hold and visited on holidays until we experience a future retirement. We look forward to the day, but it is not now.

As I reflect upon all of this, I can’t help but come to the conclusion that the state of many Christians in America is that of being in a spiritual tryptophan-induced coma. We have certainly been blessed as Christians, in innumerous ways, living in the United States and, by grace through faith, have received the ultimate blessing in the free gift of salvation through Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

There is a proper time and length of time to merely revel in this gift. God has poured out His love upon us in amazing and astonishing ways. There must be time to rest in that and let contentment and peace wash over you.

However, we are not to stay in that moment forever. That future day will come when the rest of our eternity shall consist in much of that, but that day is not now. Just as we need to arise and attend to the work that lies before us to make a living, we must arise and attend to the work that God has called us to in service to Him.

It is a great gift and yet another blessing that we have been given to be able to serve God. We have such precious little time here on this earth to make full use of it. For once the rest of eternity begins for us, we will no longer be able to serve Him in the ways we are now able to. The opportunity to be able to be used to share the Gospel and affect someone’s eternal destiny will be no more.

During this short time period in all of eternity that is your earthly life, take time to rest and savor what God has done but may our deep hunger for serving the Lord quickly be renewed. May we rise again and attend to the Lord’s work!

People’s Evangelical Congregational Church is located at 216 Wagner St., Lehighton.