Who was the first appointed deacon?

Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

The Dude Abides

Home
Progressive Christian

Last updated on: November 25, 2008 at 11:48 am by Cathleen Falsani

2008-11-25T11:48:00-07:00 Cathleen Falsani

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

GODSTUFF

HIT THE COSMIC PAUSE BUTTON AND TAKE STOCK

It probably wasn’t the last Thursday in November, and there was no pumpkin pie.

The “turkey” was more likely a goose, duck or even a crane. And there were no potatoes — sweet, mashed or candied — on the menu for the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621.

So say various historians and the folks at Snopes.com, who make it a point, especially this time of the year, to try to separate fact from mythology when it comes to what is arguably America’s most beloved national holiday.

When it comes down to it, though, very little actually is known about the meal 50-odd English settlers shared with about 90 of their Wampanoag Indian neighbors over three days one autumn 387 years ago.

Only two primary sources exist, giving the briefest of accounts of that Thanksgiving festival: Edward Winslow’s Mourt’s Relation and William Bradford’s Of Plimouth Plantation, according to the Pilgrim Hall Museum in Plymouth, Mass.

Winslow, who wrote his account in 1621 in a letter to a friend, had this to say:

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together, after we had gathered the fruits of our labors; they four in one day killed as much fowl, as with a little help beside, served the Company almost a week, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Arms, many of the Indians coming amongst us, and amongst the rest their greatest king Massasoit, with some 90 men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted, and they went out and killed five Deer, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Governor, and upon the Captain and others. And although it be not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

Bradford, writing 20 years after Winslow, in a text that was essentially lost for nearly 100 years, said:

“They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing, about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want; and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys, of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they had about a peck of meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to that proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true reports.”

Whatever was served at that first Thanksgiving, one thing is certain: Two disparate groups of people sat down for a meal. They shared no common language, culture, or even skin tone. But they shared a meal and, perhaps, attempted to span the seemingly unbridgeable cultural chasm that separated them — if only for a few days or hours.

The “pilgrims” and the Indians did share an understanding of God — a creator and provider God from whom all blessings flow. They might have called that God by different names, but when food, fish, crops and fowl appeared in abundance after a long, hungry winter, they thanked their God.

Whether you believe in God or not, Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity to hit the cosmic pause button and take stock of your blessings, or graces, or plenty. And it’s also a time to build bridges, if only for the span of a dinner party.

So this week, sit down at a table and give thanks.

Whether you’re digging into a 20-pound Butterball, a roast tofurky, green bean casserole, chestnut-stuffed pheasant in port wine sauce, or a Big Mac and fries, take a few moments to acknowledge the food on your plate. Remember the people who raised the food you’re eating, those who prepared it, trucked it, stocked it, plucked it. Thank the bird. Thank the beans. Say thank you.

Then look at the people at the table, whether it’s one or 100. Look into the other person’s eyes. Ask them what they’re thankful for and listen, patiently, until they’ve said what they really wanted to say. Listen with your heart, if you can locate it under all the mashed potatoes.

Think about what you are thankful for. Is it a friend? A lover? A child? Is it the job you still have, or the opportunity for a career do-over? Is it a healed relationship, a reconciliation, or a graceful parting? A song? A flower? An election? Winning the coin toss for the drumstick? The fact that, despite all the darkness, you still see a flicker of light? That you’re still breathing?

Whatever it is, find it; acknowledge it, and be thankful.

For even in the worst of times, we Americans live with a surplus of blessings.

Remember what Winslow said all those years ago: “We are so far from want that we often wish you partakers of our plenty.”

Uncategorized

Previous Post

November 21, 2008

Next Post

November 26, 2008

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A little happy ARCHIVED COLUMNS BECOMING FAMILY BelieberNess BREAKING NEWS! Disquiet Time DJ JEFF'S SPINTASMS falsani FILM from OCRegister From Sojo.net God Nods GODSTUFF I Take Requests incubatespirit LURKING IN THE NARTHEX On My Nightstand ONEMOMS Polling the Room PONTIFEXCELLENT Thru My Eyes TWO CENTS Uncategorized Upcoming Events VASCO VASCO'S HEART

Select a Month January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 July 2014 May 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 October 2003 March 2003 December 2002 October 2002 January 2001

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first appointed deacon?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Stephen Nicolas Barnabas Philip