Our world is always in a rush and tumble state. People are
always hurrying to some place of importance. The Thanksgiving Holiday makes it
even worse. Air travel and road travel are increased by numbers at which we can
only estimate at being "all time highs". Why is that?
Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday that embodies
what our nation is about. It is a time to remember those who first immigrated
to the "New World" and planted the
first crops, established the first towns and remembering the many that died
trying to make this brave new world a reality. Those first Pilgrims came here
seeking freedom. Freedom from an oppressive government, freedom to worship as
they felt was right without government interference.
Is that really what most of us remember at this time of the
year? No, probably not. What is it that drives people to go to extremes to be
"home" for Thanksgiving? What is it that caused them to drive days on
end for thousands of miles? What is it that causes them to stand in lines at
airports, to endure layovers and cramped quarters in a cylinder hurtling
through the air? What is it that causes them to chance being stranded by bad
weather in some strange place while traveling, still far from home?
It seems that for most of us it is a time of reminiscing
about times gone by. It is a time of remembering family gatherings of the past
and looking forward to sharing more of the same. It is about smiling, laughing
and sharing. It is about renewing and sharing our love with others, and yes it
is a time of food. But the food itself is a reminder, a remembrance of times
shared together in the past. It is about love! Love for family and friends.
Yes, I know that sometimes family (and friends) can be trying.
The relationships sometime require sacrifices that are difficult, but then it
is the "love" part that motivates us to make that sacrifice.
Perhaps
Paul's words from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tell us what it is all about: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does
not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not
easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but
rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres." (NIV)
So, am I saying that our Thanksgiving Holiday is ultimately
about love? Yes, of course it is, if it weren’t there would be no thanksgiving!
To all of my readers let me say, I am thankful for you!
Many of you are separated from physical family (as are we) this holiday, but
then we are family are we not. Joined in Christ, brothers and sisters and I
rejoice that God has brought us together.
