PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

One of the pieces of good news for me is that we are past Halloween and on to a much more meaningful holiday – Thanksgiving.

In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states.

But, it wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

I am glad that President Lincoln took the initiative to proclaim this holiday.

At this time of year, it is traditional, not to mention meaningful, to reflect on what we are thankful for. So, here is my quick list.

• I am very thankful that I had the good sense to ask Nancy Fraser to marry me more than 44 years ago. For whatever set of reasons, she said yes and we have had a great run together.
• I am very thankful for our two children – Eric and Lissy – who have made our lives full and blessed.
• The same can be said of their spouses – Holly and Tim, respectively. If we had been picking spouses for our children, we could not have done better.
• I am very thankful for our three grandchildren – Eric’s and Holly’s Drew and Lissy’s and Tim’s Mason and Kate. What a wonder they are!
• I am very thankful for our beloved pet, Hogan the dog, who went up to heaven about six weeks ago. Now, we have a new beloved dog, Callaway. And, yes, both are “golfing dogs,” based on their names.
• I am very thankful for our church in Salem, Salem Alliance, where we have been faithful members for more than 30 years. The good news about this church is that both brings people to Christ, as well as nurtures them after they make that pivotal decision. I had the privilege of serving as the chair of the Board of Governing Elders for 12 years, a very fulfilling period of service for me.
• I am thankful for all of the friends I have made at Salem Alliance and at “my” golf course, Illahe Hills Golf and Country Club. My best friend was the senior pastor at Salem Alliance for a number of years. Our chance to work together made us much like brothers. Further, my friends on the golf course have stuck with me through think and thin over years, including during recovery from what I call “my episode” – a heart attack on December 1, 2004.
• I am thankful for all the friends I made in two professional positions – one as a state government manager and another as a private sector lobbyist.
• And, most of all, I am thankful that, many years ago, I made a personal decision to follow Christ. To say the least, I have not been a perfect follower over the years, but the good news is that God is faithful, being strong at the very point of our weakness.

So, in your sphere, be thankful and call to mind your own reasons to be thankful…not just today on Thanksgiving, but on every other day of the year.