One of the greatest dangers we face spiritually is learning how and forgetting why. That is why God is always telling us to build altars. Altars help us remember what God doesn't want us to forget. I know Thanksgiving, like so many holidays, becomes less and less about its original intent and more and more about cultural traditions. But I thought I'd share a Thanksgiving reminder.
Our Thanksgiving tradition traces back to the Pilgrims. And their journey to America was motivated for religious reasons. They sought the freedom to worship God as they believed the Bible taught. One of my favorite pictures in the rotunda of the Capitol is the embarkation of the Pilgrims. They are kneeling on the deck of the Speedwell. That is the ship they took from Holland to England. Then they hopped on the Mayflower. The centrality of the Bible is so symbolic.
Their journey to America was brutal. They spent 66 days on the high seas and finally landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts on December 21, 1620. Their first winter was harsh. 45 of the 102 immigrants died and were buried on Cole's Hill.
It was the next fall that the Pilgrims hosted a three-day festival celebrating their first harvest. They invited their Indian friends, including Massasoit. And in the words of William Bradford, "Besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys."
So here's a thought. As you're eating turkey today, don't forget why we eat turkey at all. That tradition traces back to the courageous pilgrimage of God-fearing believers that landed them here in the first place. And many of the religious freedoms we enjoy as Americans can be traced back to the sacrifices made by those Pilgrims that first winter.
Our Thanksgiving tradition traces back to the Pilgrims. And their journey to America was motivated for religious reasons. They sought the freedom to worship God as they believed the Bible taught. One of my favorite pictures in the rotunda of the Capitol is the embarkation of the Pilgrims. They are kneeling on the deck of the Speedwell. That is the ship they took from Holland to England. Then they hopped on the Mayflower. The centrality of the Bible is so symbolic.
Their journey to America was brutal. They spent 66 days on the high seas and finally landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts on December 21, 1620. Their first winter was harsh. 45 of the 102 immigrants died and were buried on Cole's Hill.
It was the next fall that the Pilgrims hosted a three-day festival celebrating their first harvest. They invited their Indian friends, including Massasoit. And in the words of William Bradford, "Besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys."
So here's a thought. As you're eating turkey today, don't forget why we eat turkey at all. That tradition traces back to the courageous pilgrimage of God-fearing believers that landed them here in the first place. And many of the religious freedoms we enjoy as Americans can be traced back to the sacrifices made by those Pilgrims that first winter.
7 Comments:
Thanks for the timely reminder.
"Their first winter was harsh. 45 of the 102 immigrants died and were buried on Cole's Hill."
True. I wonder if there are any statistics for the number of Native Americans who died in their first winter following the landfall of Europeans to the "new" continent?
I agree that the Pilgrims should be honored and remembered for seeking to be a city on a hill, a people who worship God. I honor their courage and their and hospitality to local neighbors.
Still, and perhaps more importantly in an age of American Empire, shouldn't we be seeking out altars of remembrance for those First Nations who have been all but erased from the map? We might uncover new dimensions of grace, forgiveness and thanksgiving if we dive into the full spectrum of our history.
May we never forget the centrality of God in all of history -- history is truly His story.
Johnohara,
If it weren't for the friendship of the Indians, I seriously doubt the Pilgrims would have survived. They ought to be honored, along with the Pilgrims, on this day.
I'm certainly not denying that there were other groups bent on conquest at any cost. We need a 360 perspective on history--good, bad, and ugly. And we need to celebrate or repent where necessary.
But can I also share one thought? Not as a rebuttal, but as a refocus. And again, I think we need to understand the point that you're making. But I love history. I actually wanted to teach history at one point. And here is my meta-historical observation.
I think we live in an age, where history has become a source of criticism and skepticism instead of inspiration. And there are lots of things to criticize and be skeptical of. I just think we've neglected inspirational moments in history that are worth celebrating. And I think this is one of them.
Again, I'm not rebutting anything you're saying. I just think there are days to celebrate and days to criticize. I think this is a day to celebrate something providential, something beautiful, something historic.
Mark
Thanks, Mark. I think we're on the same foot, and I celebrate with you what the LORD has done. We should always be careful about what we celebrate as providential, however -- those early immigrants considered the smallpox that decimated the Native Americans providential and a sign that God was on their side. It's a tough gig, figuring out how to celebrate the goodness of God.
Mark -
Thanks for this post. It's a great reminder for us all.
Like you, I'm a history buff and I really dig stuff like this.
Well done!
David
A Pastor In South Carolina
Thanks Mark. I appreciate your insights and I'm thankful for the examples we can look back to and learn from - both the good and the bad.
What we focus on will be magnified...it's up to us to focus on the good and put what we can to practice, as well as notice the bad and learn what we can.
We are truly blessed to be alive in these days!
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