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Danny Heitman: Reflecting on small blessings this Thanksgiving | Entertainment / Life

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I read in the newspaper that the flashing lights of the Eiffel Tower are turned off early every night to save energy, which might be a bit of a pity for visitors to Paris. This French landmark is a big draw for tourists who enjoy a taste of the City of Light, and I considered it a must-see when I first visited Paris in 1991.

Even so, my most vivid memories of traveling at the time did not involve a part of Paris that might end up in a guidebook. A friend I was traveling with suggested one evening that we go for a walk, not thinking about a particular destination, and letting Paris express itself on its own terms. We were exhausted from a few days of travel and we were ready to not follow any plan at all.

And just like that, in a quiet neighborhood, we happened to be singing in an old community church. A choir was practicing inside, its harmonies wafting out into the street through an open side door. We were captivated and went in for a while, enjoying the choral music beautifully presented in French. It was great to hear a language with such a special resonance in my native Louisiana, with singers whose voices were inspired by a palpable sense of faith.

That night taught me a lesson that, while I often forget it, I have tried hard to remember. The simple fact is that when we’re hunting for headlines — a trip to the Eiffel Tower, a trek through the Grand Canyon, a cruise to a tropical port — the little moments that creep up on us often contain the biggest unexpected graces .

With another Thanksgiving approaching, I’ve been thinking about all of this, and it’s time to reflect on the big things that are sure to inspire gratitude.

As I sit around a festive table with other heads down, some obvious blessings come to mind. Our daughter got married this year. Our son successfully trekked to France over the summer, a capstone as he prepares to graduate from college next spring. My wife and I both attend high school reunions, another event in our personal calendars that helps to boldly emphasize how lucky we are.

But the year also brought smaller but equally astonishing windfalls. My job required me to attend a national convention in Orlando last August, and as I stood in the ballroom during reception hours to make new friends, it occurred to me: this is exactly the kind of thing that seemed out of reach during America’s darkest days. The fellowship of the pandemic, and now it has been restored to us.

Maybe Thanksgiving, at its best, inspires us to recall these lowercase blessings—little miracles, written in the fine print of our usual times, that we’re usually too busy to see.

At least that’s my hope, as autumn draws the curtain on what has been a tiring year.

Email Danny Heitman danny@dannyheitman.com.



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