Day 27 — Thanksgiving Day
- Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18 — Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
- Reflection: To fully appreciate where we are, what abundance we enjoy, with whom we celebrate, and how we are connected, we must also tell the whole story. Days such as Thanksgiving may include lamentation.
We can appreciate the dreams and resilience of those who strove to reach these shores. The builders of the nation as we know it now.
Yet not everyone celebrates today. Many people, indigenous to this land, ultimately died, because of the early encounters with colonists. Other people, from other places, are hiding, because they are being hunted. Some of our neighbors are alone. For many reasons, many folks cannot feel gratitude today, or openly gather and celebrate.
So we aren’t supposed to stop celebrating and gathering and cherishing each other. Rather we want to extend this comfort and privilege to all people in this land.
Along the way, we can be grateful, and also acknowledge that many of our blessings are built on the work and sacrifice of others. We owe much to past generations in our own families. As well as the contributions of people we will never meet or know.
Some labor and effort was offered willingly. Some of it was coerced. This was true when colonists fled oppressive circumstances to settle in the US, including indentured people. It was true during centuries of conflict with the indigenous peoples of this land. It has been true through the stories of enslaved people brought against their will to this country, then later against people of color, people from different lands, or opposing political or religious beliefs.
We have historically aspired to become a society that embraces, honors, and flourishes through diversity. Our nation, at its best, welcomes people through legal paths to the full rights of belonging, participation, and contribution as citizens. Meanwhile, there’s more to do. And many who cannot find a way to access this dream, this vision, this promise.
We can appreciate this day, and also hold the knowledge that it comes with shadows and obligations. True thanksgiving — over time — includes truth-telling, relationship-building, and reconciliation. Gratitude expands our capacity to seek an equitable solution and society for all people. - Practice: Name something you are grateful for and something you commit to learning or unlearning about this holiday.
Song:
- “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell: https://youtu.be/yXr2EFomFkU?si=NKiu0GIuoz_9IS5x
Nov 27 Thanksgiving Day