Happy Thanksgiving from the Meads!! For the first time in many, many years I was not in charge of baking a turkey. For our first Thanksgiving in UAE, we were invited to two different homes. We celebrated both Thursday and Friday. I truly enjoyed “Black Friday,” as instead of shopping, we had a time of worship; Friday is the day of organized worship here. This morning I woke up with a smile, knowing I was to enjoy my favorite holiday breakfast—a cup of coffee (of course!) and a slice of left over pumpkin pie! I am sure it is healthy.

During the week we have been exploring Al Ain, filling out forms for this and that, learning the hospital computer system, shopping for some furniture for our future apartment, and learning the rules of the road. Al Ain has both stop lights and roundabout traffic controls. In Nairobi the roundabouts go in a clockwise fashion with cars weaving within the different lanes. As the volume of Nairobi traffic has reached overwhelming proportions, the speed, by necessity, has decreased. Public transportation vehicles still maintain their right to cut off anyone to go where they please. You carefully watch your car as vehicles pass within inches.

Al Ain’s roundabouts go counter clockwise; we travel on the ‘correct’ side of the road here. The roundabouts are less full, but the speed of the vehicles is much greater. I am still trying to figure out which lane is going where. People dance their way through the circles comfortably; I am still cautiously cruising through, often generating honks from frustrated drivers. Each day travel is a little easier. Knowing the preferred routes to a few destinations does help make travel easier.

As we were coming home from our feast last night, we enjoyed a beautiful light show. The date palms had purple lights outlining their trunks. The palm branches had cascades of sparkling white lights completing the picture. Arabic symbols hanging from poles or resting along the road were created of lights of red, green, or white. The fountains were bathed in soft green lights, with the water spouts spraying white. The United Arab Emirates is preparing to celebrate 40 years of existence. December 2 is the national holiday. All around town you see banners announcing this fact. Cars have been decorated with huge decals of the different Sheikhs’ pictures. Pictures of the town skyline have been printed on posters, T-shirts, buildings, and more. UAE hats, scarves, and other clothing are for sale in preparation of a party. Massive UAE flags are seen draped from roof tops. You can feel the excitement building.

I am learning the history behind the formation of the United Arab Emirates out of a collection of independent Emirates. The Sheikh was truly a man of vision and power to see what could be and then act upon his vision. I do love to hear the stories of how projects, organizations, and lives came to be.

As a Christian, I know God is always with me and at work in my life. Life is a mystery that slowly unfolds over time. Sometimes we would like to sit down and spend time in the “what ifs” of regret; that is not healthy. We do not live in the past, nor can we change the past. We can look back and learn from life, but that is not a place to live. Each day is a new day. We are faced with choices that will affect the future. Some choices we know in our heart to be dangerous, carrying consequences we wish to avoid. Other choices may be scary and risky to the status quo, yet offer a glorious adventure. We may have that “holy discontent” described by Bill Hybels and the philosopher Popeye the Sailorman: “That’s all I can stand; I can’t stands no more.”

You see a problem that really, really bothers you. You feel there must be a change. You know there must be a change now! You make the choice to do something about the problem, and through your choice your whole life travels another path. This path may have vigorous trials but the vision of what could be and should be drives you onward. Living life in a “safe zone” may sound appealing, but what about those nagging thoughts about life’s injustices that just won’t go away? Can you guarantee your future? Is a retirement time walking the beach and picking up shells really for you? Ask those people who are living life in a different way how they ended where they are. You will find the stories fascinating.

Thanksgiving is a special time for me when I take time to think about all I am thankful for in my life. I could go and spend time in regrets, but those are gone and unchangeable. Instead I am overwhelmed with thankfulness for all I have been given. Trying to list them all here is not possible. A few may tickle your mind and allow you to celebrate Thanksgiving in this way as well. I am thankful for parents who loved me, stayed married together, taught me the value of education, gave me loving and talented brothers and sister, took time to encourage me, supported my efforts to try something new, and so much more. I am thankful for the love of my life, my wife Jana. I am thankful for and proud of my children. I am thankful to be called to be a missionary. I am thankful for all my Kenyan friends who “loved on” me. I am thankful for being able to live on the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. And on the list goes. Most of all, I am thankful that God so loved the world—including me—that He gave us His Son. I am thankful that every day, in every place, I am loved by Him and held firmly in His grip.