Thanksgiving seems to evoke a variety of visions, feelings and hopes in all of us. For some of us tradition itself creates a comforting and predictable day of family, turkey and football. For some it is a day to dig a little deeper into our thankfulness, donate time and maybe indulge in a nutroast. For others it is a day to boycott all together because it has become a lie and a shame. For others still it is a serious day of mourning. It pushes an ancestral button of betrayal, displacement and slaughter. This unfathomable loss must be a pain that is woven directly into their DNA. Without reiterating the details of this holidays origins I’d like to address what it has become and humbly suggest what it might be.
At the heart of this day we have a celebration of monumental compassion given to the Pilgrims by the wise Indigenous peoples of this land. Many of us tap into this deep gratitude while partaking in our laughter and libations. We share our abundance with joy thus acknowledging it. We “pay it forward” by reaching out happily to give to those in need. It is as if we have some unconscious remembrance of a life saving kindness woven into our own timeless being. For many others it is a symbol of betrayal and possibly a squelching of faith in goodness being returned for the benefit of all. It is a reminder of homelands being savagely taken through trade, tricks and murder. It could make one wonder if sharing is even safe.
What is missing from this day of plenty is precisely what it is supposed to be a symbol of... a coming together of everyone... to share and be grateful together. When we celebrate this day of friendships forged while sweeping the brutal betrayal under the rug we fracture our souls with it’s inauthenticity, cheating ourselves out of an incredible potential for evolvement. Could we simply admit the mistakes and even teach them to our children. Can we forgive the pilgrims and offer our sincere apologies in their names? Can correct the past with right action today? What if we could be forgiven? Humans are fragile and when ruled by fear we are dangerous. The pilgrims were ill prepared, arrogantly religious and horribly greedy. They were also teeming with courage, dreams, hopes and faith. We can forgive them and we can celebrate them and we can apologize for them. We can reach our hands out and use our beating hearts to direct us. A true apology is a laborious kindness in action. We can ask our indigenous neighbors how we can help. We can do what is asked of us.
We can all celebrate the healing, the lessons learned and the love growing. We would empower our beloved land as a beacon of healing with balance, truth and right action. We would light up something wonderful within ourselves. Something as simple a flower offered to a native American neighbor can plant a seed of acknowledgment that allows healing to begin. Love your love light in action.
Feel the magic.......
