Thanksgiving in Crazy Times
Staying grateful even for dinnertime disagreements and unsettling uncles.
FOR THIS YEAR’S THANKSGIVING PRAYER, let’s center our reflections on the unconventional characters in our lives, perhaps exemplified by your unique uncle.
It’s likely that the term “unconventional” has crossed your thoughts frequently recently, maybe more than usual. In the past, there were individuals deemed “misguided” or “confused,” but in recent years, this situation appears to have escalated. It feels as if a growing number of people are exhibiting behavior that can only be described as eccentric.
It’s essential to clarify that this isn’t a clinical assessment. No one is officially diagnosed with anything. Yet, with the rise of flat-earthers, those insisting that Trump won the 2020 election, individuals claiming Putin is the victim in the Ukraine conflict, and, to add an unsettling twist, suggestions that Osama bin Laden may have been onto something all along — it goes beyond mere disagreement; it ventures into the realm of the absurd.
Regrettably, spending time with individuals we perceive as “eccentric” is not conducive to our mental well-being. As beings, more or less intelligent apes, wired to recognize patterns and stay vigilant for potential threats, we seek predictability for our safety. Surrounding ourselves with those who seem unhinged triggers our alarm systems because it becomes impossible to anticipate their words or actions. There are only so many precautions one can take before living in a state of constant unease. While we appreciate diverse perspectives and encourage open expression in our pluralistic world, navigating the unpredictability of eccentricity challenges our fundamental need for a sense of security. After all, none of us want to find ourselves confined to prepper bunkers, anxiously awaiting an improbable apocalypse — though, ironically, those individuals may have the last laugh if it ever comes to pass.
