Blogging with Father John

The Real First Thanksgiving and What it Means for us Today.

The Rev. John R. West, Jr.

November 26, 2014

Thanksgiving is an important time and event in the life of our nation. Unfortunately it didn’t start off as one might expect. I remember growing up with all the Norman Rockwell type of pictures of the wife of the family serving a delicious looking turkey to her family. I also remember pictures of the pilgrims sitting side by side with the Native American people sharing in a gorgeous looking meal, largely provided by the Native Americans. Unfortunately my childhood perceptions of Thanksgiving were shattered by the reality of the events that actually took place.

The settlers of that day whether at Plymouth Rock or else where in the new world actually slaughtered the Native Americans in the name of God, fertile land and a selfish desire to obtain as much territory as possible. So the Norman Rockwell paintings are smashed to bits and untrue. I find it amazing how human nature has the tendency to rewrite history in a manner that makes us feel less guilty, look better in the eyes of the world and ignore the true facts. 

A whole people were wiped out systematically as the English, Spanish and Portuguese continued to settle the new world. What good could possibly come out of these heinous actions? How can we possibly be grateful for the bountiful resources we have at the expense of the Native Americans? Where is the real Thanksgiving in our ancestor’s actions of brutal and selfish force?

As terrible as this early period of settlement in the New World was for the Native Americans we must look for the grace of God, a God whose name was unfortunately used in the systematic exploitation and genocide of so many innocent indigenous people. While this was certainly a black and dark time in the colonization of North America as well as else where, and one that I am adamantly opposed and embarrassed, today in this post modern era knowledge and truthfulness have changed our Thanksgiving to a time of genuine remembrance and gratitude.

Today we come together in an atmosphere of love, thanksgiving and gratitude for the bountiful love and blessings God has bestowed upon us and those we love. While life may be difficult for each of us though out the year, we truly have so much to be thankful for in life.

First of all we have acknowledged the brutal and wretched actions of our ancestors, and while we can’t go back in time to change those actions, we have apologized in many ways to our brothers and sisters who are Native American. We have even made November Native American month in order to honor these beautiful people. Of course this is only a scratch upon the surface of reconciliation for the terrible actions of our ancestors, but many of us, especially in the Church acknowledge the wrongdoing and seek to reconcile with our Native American sisters and brothers.

While turkey and all the fixings line many of our tables on Thanksgiving Day as we gather with family, there is another group of people that we seek to assist and provide subsistence. Those are the forgotten and people of the streets who are hopeless and options have seemly run out in the life. There are many shelters and places of safety that these people are able to seek shelter and eat a hot meal.

Despite all the negative connotations that are unfortunately associated with the early days of Thanksgiving, today it is about gathering with family and friends in our homes. Thanksgiving is about the remembrance of the bounty, in which God has provided us, and an attitude of sincere gratitude. Thanksgiving is about outreach to the poor and destitute of our cities and rural areas. Finally thanksgiving is about humbly seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with all those we hurt in the settlement of this country, especially the Native Americans. 

This year as we gather with family and friends to enjoy each other’s company and come together in gratitude and thankfulness for all the rich blessings God has bestowed upon us, I ask us to specifically pray for those who are hurt, destitute, resentful, angry, sick, diseased and abused. That is the true meaning behind Thanksgiving - reconciliation, gratitude and observance of God’s blessings along with outreach to those who are destitute and hopeless. I also pray that we will be united as one people under God, honoring one another and respecting each others heritage.