Day of Thanks

The Mayflower dropped anchor in the cold waters of Cape Cod Bay on November 21, 1620, after a long and arduous journey across the Atlantic.

The travelers called themselves Separatists, as they were making the journey from Europe in search of freedom of worship. The term Pilgrim was later coined by one of their leaders, William Bradford. Literally, the word means "far afield" and is usually applied to those making long journeys of deep religious significance.

Their devotion did not see the settlers safely through to Spring, however. The Pilgrims were woefully prepared for that first American winter. Sickness and starvation claimed nearly half their number.

In the spring Native Americans taught their new neighbors how to hunt, fish, and farm. In the spirit of cooperation, the Pilgrims and the Native American leader Massasoit of the Wampanoag tribe signed a treaty that provided for mutual protection in case of attack from outside enemies, as well as a peace between the peoples.

The next autumn, in 1621, a bountiful harvest was enjoyed by all. As was the Puritan custom, the settlers designated a special day of thanks for God's blessings.

The significance of these events was not lost on Bradford. Years later he wrote:

"Thus out of small beginnings greater things have been produced by His hand that made all things of nothing, and gives being to all things that are; and as one small candle may light a thousand, so the light here kindled hath shown unto many, yea in some sort to our whole nation..."

Abraham Lincoln signed the proclamation that made Thanksgiving Day an official American holiday on October 3, 1863, in the midst of the terrible and costly Civil War. More Americans were killed in this war than in all other American conflicts combined, from the colonial period to today.

Lincoln called on us to become of one mind in his Proclamation; to focus on healing, restoration, and unity:

"I...invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens.

"And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union."

It seems that our world today is in turmoil. We regularly read of disaster and death and pain and suffering in many places.

But there is great peace here, too! There is laughter and love.

In my work, I meet with many people who find themselves in the depths of grief, confusion, and many times outright and fiery anger. However, the messages I routinely get from those who have passed are those of hope, healing, and forgiveness.

Above all, these messages urge us to be thankful for the majestic bounty with which we, like the seekers of 1620, have been blessed.

In addition to being thankful for my beautiful family, the amazing abundance in my life, and the love and healing that I feel and see each and every day, I am thankful for you and that you are reading these words.

It is my hope for you, on this Thanksgiving Day, that you are one small candle that lights a thousand others, and that you are healed, restored and filled with Divine purpose.

Today and forever.