Thanksgiving

I really like Thanksgiving. I grew up in the town next to Plymouth MA and spent a lot of time in Plymouth. As teachers Plymouth Plantation, which is the reenactment of the original Pilgrim community, was a frequent destination. I did learn some of the history that is real and some of the story that is legend, but in principle I love the reality of their gratitude to God for their survival. I also have a special draw to this because I have been shown my whole life my own lineage to the Mayflower and that first community. All in all many things kind of compel me to treasure this holiday, but most of all because I think we Americans lack gratitude. Our culture leads us to want more and better all the time and being thankful for what we have is not readily on our minds and lips. On Facebook over the past weeks some of my friends have taken the challenge of writing something that they are thankful for each day. Many started few have kept it up. In some of my parishes the silences during the prayers of the people were often filled with loud vocal contributions when it came to prayers for the church, the government, justice and personal needs, but were noticeably silent when it came to the section for thanksgivings. Perhaps it is time to revisit the concept behind another of our big holidays. Gratitude, a great idea waiting for action.