Thanksgiving

It occurs to Uncle Bubba that Thanksgiving is coming quickly this week, and we’ve become too far removed from the source of this holiday: the Pilgrims. If one were to look up the word pilgrim in several dictionaries, one would find a common theme in the definition; a person who journeys to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion. An interesting aside is a passage found in Webster’s 1828 dictionary, referring to biblical scripture: “one that has only a temporary residence on earth. Heb.11.”

Nevertheless, our pilgrims came to America to create a new society that used the Bible as its source of values, its moral compass and government. Remember that much of the world at that time was governed by Monarchies. The new Americans' biblical interpretation, of which relied largely on the individual, was due to environmental factors such as remote and isolated living conditions and the geographical and technological tardiness of communication. This predicated the best ideals of their interactions with the Indians. To insure their best chances to survive, they had to recognize that Indians are human beings that are created by God under the same principles that they were created, to have dominion over the earth.

This individualistic biblical source also grew into the basis for our republic; from self government to our local, county, state, and eventual federal government. If we are able to self govern our behavior, our society should remain free of monarchical type federal influence. This idea can be read throughout the Declaration of Independence, but is it where we are at today?

The Pilgrims were thankful for lessons learned and friendships formed with the Indians. Their drive and determination helped to create an America built on the foundation of a Christian respect of God, our creator. The best of all American social movements started from these same principles; buying land from Indians, the Civil Rights movement, the abolition of slavery, the Bill of Rights, etc.; however our own drive and determination has blinded us to human diversity. Not all cultures hold the same values and yet we are all thankful for abundance of whatever we hold dear; be it love or money, or health, or the earth, or a personal relationship with God.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and celebrate the day with friendship and the symbol of our daily abundance, delicious food; but carry that with you everyday throughout the year. Open your eyes and free your mind to consider new or different ideas. After all, we would not have the America we do if the Pilgrims had not been willing to do so, putting action behind their beliefs.