Richard Semmler, a mathematics professor at Northern Virginia Community College, in Annandale, works two additional jobs so he can earn enough money to give away half of his $100,000 income each year.

In addition to his financial donations, Mr. Semmler volunteers with some of the charities he supports, including Central Union Mission, in Washington.

In this video, he talks about his commitment to Central Union, which works with homeless people, and how giving at this level affects his way of life.

A psalm. For giving thanks.

¹ Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.

² Worship the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.

³ Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his ;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.

⁵ For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.

(NIV)

Click here to go to NBC to view.

Obviously presenting a secular point of view, his point is nevertheless well taken.

I am Thankful…

For the husband who is on the sofa being a couch potato, because he is home with me and not out at the bars.

For the taxes I pay, because it means I am employed.

For the mess to clean after a party, because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have enough to eat.

For the floor that needs to be swept, windows that need cleaning, and sink that needs fixing, because it means I have a home.

For all of the complaining I hear about the government, because it means we have Freedom of Speech.

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because it means I am capable of walking and I have been blessed with transportation.

For my huge electric bill, because depending on the time of the year – I am nice and cool during the summer, and because that means I am warm in the winter.

For the thunder and rain that keeps me up at night, because it means I can hear.

For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to wear.

For the weariness and aching muscles and headache at the end of the day, because it means I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means I am alive and ready to give thanks for another day.