Author: Rod Anderson

Can you recall any holiday season so brightened by so many lights in so many venues and events? You may have read Hitesh Pate’s November article on these pages about the Diwali Festival of Lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists across the world and among residents of Eden Prairie. The article describes the five-day festival symbolizing the spiritual victory of light over darkness. Advent candles Then, as November turns the corner to December, Christians begin lighting the  first of four candles on their Advent wreath, accompanied by scripture readings and prayers in preparation for the coming of Christmas.…

Thanksgiving is so much more than one day in late November when we overeat and then crowd everybody into the family room to watch football played in empty stadiums. Rather, Thanksgiving is a way of life called Thanks-living that is experienced everyday when the words “Thank You” don’t sound hollow or empty, but instead emit a sincere “You’re Welcome” in response! I observe that this ageless exchange is now most often truncated, since I seldom hear the “You’re Welcome” of acknowledgement, but instead the recipient of the gratitude gives it a u turn, replying with their own “Thank You”, as…