The Spirit of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a North American celebration held in the United States and Canada which was born and rooted in the experience and English traditions dating back to the Protestant Reformation. It also has aspects of a harvest festival, even though the harvest in New England occurs well before the late November date on which the modern Thanksgiving holiday is celebrated in the United States.

According to some historians, the first celebration of Thanksgiving in North America occurred during the 1578 voyage of Martin Frobisher from England in search of the Northwest Passage. But the most solidified tradition is that of the Pilgrim Fathers who arrived in North America on the ship Mayflower and found these big birds – the turkeys – and red, acidic berries – the cranberries – to feast on and thank God for the newly found land.

No matter what, how, and why Thanksgiving is celebrated – in Canada on the second Monday of October and in the USA on the fourth Thursday of November -, this is a time for reflection and blessing count.

As I reflect and ponder on this festivity, I have some thoughts that have helped me put the significance of Thanksgiving into a perspective that is very personal and that I wish to share.

• Thanksgiving was born of the experience of immigrants – The Pilgrim Fathers had left England in hopes to find a new world where they could raise their families unimpeded by prejudice and persecutions. Today seems to be filled with as much prejudice and persecution as could be found in those times. Although much progress has been made over the centuries, we still fall into the same trap and have forgotten our roots. Some people give for granted what was considered a precious blessing by their forefathers and even treat new immigrants with contempt and sometimes hate. By doing so, they betray the spirit of their ancestors who humbly started their way to an unencumbered life with respect for nature and for the people who already lived in the newly discovered land.
• Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful – The life of the Pilgrim Fathers was a simple one. There was no technology, for instance. Time was a wholesome opportunity to cultivate and attend to the duties of the day with not much concern for the future. Focus on the present and awareness of self were the norm, together with deep spiritual connections and love for nature. Today, and especially in the last year or so, we have become obsessed with how we should look like – the pretense of appearance – that people tend to forget who they are and where they came from. Recently, I read the following statement from Jeffrey R. Holland who described what I see as one of the major issues of today: “In our present moment, we find all manner of divisions and subdivisions, sets and subsets, digital tribes and political identities, with more than enough hostility to go around. Might we ask ourselves if a “higher and holier” life is something we could seek?” I find that we can find a higher ground by recognizing and writing down what we are grateful for every single day. This will give us the needed humility to conduct a life without regrets and fend the storms of our existence.
• Thanksgiving is an opportunity to serve others – Too many are in need of assistance, food, and mental and emotional support. Instead of using Social Media to bash at each other, let us reach out to those who need a virtual embrace and let us give. There is much joy in giving and this not only creates good feelings in others but also makes us feel better about them and the world that even our challenges become less burdensome. As many have assisted in the various food drives for this occasion, much more will be needed in the weeks to come and especially as we approach the Christmas season. We are blessed for a reason: it is in us to give.

As an immigrant myself and a Canadian citizen, I have adopted Thanksgiving with my family. Although we tend to be grateful daily and signify such gratitude on a daily basis to each other and those we come in touch with, the day of Thanksgiving becomes a day for the family to ponder, be grateful, celebrate and share.

In the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Jesus depicted, in my personal view, the difference between the ungrateful and the grateful: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14) We always wish to be in the position of the Publican.

Finally, Thanksgiving is an opportunity to find love for ourselves. There are many who love us and wish the best for us. How do we repay them? By being always cranky and moody ? Do we take the time to recharge and think of our values and principles with an attitude of being better mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually? Let us not think about careers or challenges as our life but as opportunities and accessories to live a life – in fact the only one we can have.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.
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