This post is a brief reflection and departure from the current project of working through Paul’s Letter to the Romans; although, there are some connections.

By law in the United States the fourth Thursday of every November is set aside for a day of Thanksgiving. While it became law in 1941, days of Thanksgiving designated by government proclamation were a regular part of American civic life. Abraham Lincoln is generally credited with the proclamation that it be celebrated regularly on the last Thursday of November. That was in 1863, the Civil War was still raging when the President suggested that the nation would benefit from a day of prayer and thanksgiving to God.

A brief excerpt from the President’s proclamation: “No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People.”

When I was a child, we were taught that Thanksgiving has its roots in the experience of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts celebrating the harvest that would ensure their survival for at least another year. We were also told that they had invited their Native American friends to join them in a peaceful gathering. As my own children are grown, I am not sure if students today are taught these things; nor, do I know if they make pilgrim hats from construction paper and decorate turkeys that they have created by tracing their own hand on a piece of paper.

I do know that Thanksgiving is the forgotten holiday in my country. It still happens but it is being cast adrift from its roots and may someday be replaced by some other seemingly useful national holiday. To be clear Thanksgiving is not openly maligned, it is simply ignored and pushed to the margins by seemingly more important considerations.

One, the current national narrative to explain who and what we are as Americans runs counter to peaceful interactions between English Settlers (re: Imperialists) and Native Americans (re: Victimized Indigenous People) over a feast giving praise to Divine Providence. The notion that a Federal Holiday would exist to encourage a time of feast and prayer offends those who misunderstand our Constitution’s first amendment.

Second, Thanksgiving is a selfless holiday. What do I mean? Consider the self-centeredness of Halloween and Christmas (ironically) that border it. Thanksgiving is not as Instagram-ready as Halloween. Halloween has become a holiday for young moms to show off their children’s cute costumes with pictures and reels of the trick or treating process. Adults without children in the United States have increasingly turned it into an excuse to party, the costumes providing a means of dressing provocatively or trying out a different persona. I do not mean to sound curmudgeonly. The children are cute, and they deserve the fun of getting free candy. Adults can party however they see fit. Still, seeking social media likes and a night of bacchanalia reflects a certain selfishness inherent in how we are celebrating Halloween. Christmas, at least amongst the secular minded people, a time of gift giving which also means gift receiving. Again, parties are emphasized. Many folks look forward to it as a time of the year when they can get a great deal on new electronics or clearance priced clothing in the last week of the year. Every major car maker runs commercials during the holidays encouraging the purchase of a new vehicle. Christmas is almost becoming Consumptionmas.

Thanksgiving by contrast is chock full of selfless behavior. Consider the gathering of a large family. The host member of the family is expected to facilitate a feast! This entails being up hours before the company to work on the meal all the while keeping the toilets running and the linens washed (selfless behavior). The guests have travelled, often cross country, leaving their own homes and using their limited time off from work to spend time with family many of whom they intentionally left behind at some point in their lives (selfless behavior). There are still other members of society who will be responsible for the early opening of retailers for Black Friday deals, grocery stores for those who didn’t plan well and forgot cranberries, keeping gas stations open for travelers, diners for divorced dads, and hospitals for the misfortunate. All selfless behavior in its own right.

Third, Thanksgiving is being ignored because many people in this country are appalled at the notion of being forced to sit down and break bread with a family member that may have voted differently than them. Back in 2016 I remember hearing on NPR a radio spot on how to be around your family that voted republican. The incidences of similar stories as been on the rise for the past 8 years. The prevalence of such advice presented as newsworthy on cable networks and in major publications, both for liberals and conservatives, says something about us as a culture. Perhaps this helps explain the rise of Friendsgiving celebrations where it is considered easier and better to gather with your like-minded fellows than with your diverse family.

When you put it altogether a Christian might begin to think there are forces at work that want to distract us from the task of taking just one day out of the year to remember blessings and returning thanks to God. It’s as if these idolatrous forces work to secularize the day and make it all about consumption and football. You could read all the above reasons for the maligning of Thanksgiving as the work of the principal idols in modern culture (Sports, Money, Politics, Self) to distract and deflect any attention whatsoever on the Almighty.

Something to think about.

Faithful readers of this blog have already been reminded that part of who we are called to be is people who give thanks to God. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Rom 1:21) and Paul reminds the believers in Phillipi, Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:4-7).

Jesus encourages us to be in the world and not of the world. So, enjoy the football, eat the turkey, reminisce with family and friends. If you have to work let your Christ light shine. Do these things but do them with a heart filled with gratitude to the Almighty One who makes all things possible and all things new.

Vaya Con Dios!