originally published as the Sermon of the Week in the Princeton Union-Eagle.

Today is the day for Taxes and Thanksgiving. You probably don’t hear those two words in the same sentence very often! There are some who will disagree that they belong together. I’d love to get your feedback. (You can leave comments if you’d like.) But at least hear me out.

Many years ago, Jesus was asked, “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” The people who asked the question were trying to set him up. If he said, “No.” he would be in trouble with Rome. If he said, “Yes.” they would say that he was not fully committed to Israel. The Jews despised paying taxes because they hated being under Roman rule and many of those who were collecting the taxes were corrupt.

Jesus answered, “Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” Then he asked, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

As I understand it, taxes are one way that we participate in this great nation in which we live. Paying our fair share of taxes ranks right up there with casting our votes and being good citizens. I for one am thankful to be paying taxes in the United States rather than in Iraq, the Sudan, Haiti or Russia. Let me tell you why.

• I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to vote for my leaders. While I don’t always agree with how they arrive at decisions or the decisions that they make, I had a chance to influence the process.
• I’m thankful that I can influence the process by writing letters, praying and attending rallies. Granted, “they” don’t always listen (if by listening I mean doing what I want them to). But they’re not allowed to stop me from trying!
• I’m thankful that I have good schools to send my children to. Sure, I wish we had better facilities for them to study in. But our experience has been mostly good with our teachers and administrators.
• I’m thankful for roads that allow me to walk, run, bike, roller-blade and drive everywhere I need (or just want) to go. Since we just paved a parking lot not that long ago, I know how expensive these projects are. And I’m not at all looking forward to the inconvenience of bridge demolition and reconstruction. But just think of the alternative – let your bridges slowly deteriorate until they are truly unsafe to walk or drive on.
• While I don’t always agree with how much money is spent on our military or how our military is used, I’m thankful that I feel safe in this country from foreign invaders and from terrorists within.
• And I’m thankful for health care. Yes, it’s ridiculously expensive. Then again, if my foot or my hip hurts, I can get help. If I want to know what’s going on with health, I schedule a physical. If I’m involved in an accident, there’s help nearby.
• I’m thankful for city workers, police and fire departments, libraries, flowers and banners on our streets, help for needy people, laws, environmental oversight… I could go on, but you’d probably stop reading!

What I’m most thankful for is that the money I have in my pocket belongs to the United States of America. It doesn’t have a picture of a dictator on it. It has the pictures of elected officials who have served well. I don’t live in a country that is occupied by a foreign power, but one that is ruled through elected officials. And the tax system may be unwieldy, but the tax collectors aren’t “skimming off the top.”