Thanksgiving Origins

Another Thanksgiving Day has come and gone, leaving the Wayfarer in a state of well being – or rather over done - from the abundance of the feeding trough, metaphorically speaking.  While reclining after over-indulgence thoughts of Thanksgiving origins found their way through the maze of memories becoming the focal point for contemplation.  No doubt you are familiar with the story of the first Thanksgiving celebrated by the Pilgrims, with its subsequent Presidential Proclamation making it an Annual National Holiday.  But do you know where the concept for Thanksgiving originated with the Pilgrims?

While doing a little research (very little, I might add) here is what was discovered on http://www.ritualwell.org/ritual/sukkot-food-traditions :  “Prior to making their way to the New World, the Pilgrims, themselves the victims of religious persecution, spent several years among Sephardic Jews in Holland. When they later celebrated the legendary first Thanksgiving, their conscious frame of reference was Sukkot.”

Sukkot is also known as the Feast of Tabernacles which the Lord had instituted in Leviticus 23 and was to be celebrated for eight days after the fall harvest.  They were commanded to be joyful during this feast – in other words to “party on!”  They offered thanks for the abundance of the harvest and for the expected abundance in the coming year.  There is much more to this particular holiday than what I am describing here, but the main thing is the concept of joy and thanksgiving.  One of the symbols used during Sukkot is the Cornucopia, or “Horn of Plenty”, which has been adopted by North America.

Thanksgiving is the time set apart for family and friends to gather together to partake in a festive feast and offer thanks for the blessings bestowed upon them through the year.  A time when great memories are made, relationships strengthened and hard times briefly put aside.  For many, especially adults, this has become the favorite holiday of the year, surpassing Christmas.

It originated as a Holy Day (from which we derive the term “holiday”) to be recognized as a day set apart to honor God with thankfulness for the abundant blessings He has given His people.  Unfortunately for many that tradition has been minimized, if not forgotten as they observe other events and activities, replacing gratitude with greed and frivolity.  Thanksgiving Day Parades and Football Games take priority over thankfulness.  Black Friday has been established in recent years in which many anticipate more than Thanksgiving, with it now beginning the night of Thanksgiving.  Commerce now preempts Thanksgiving with their enticements, fostering more greed as many cannot be satisfied with the abundance they already have.

These musings are not meant to put a sour note on this special holiday but rather to maintain awareness to the importance of Thanksgiving.  The question is should Black Friday be put aside for at least a week, if not completely, so not to detract from Thanksgiving?  That’s not likely to happen given the climate of our society today.  However, we can choose to either participate in the madness or ignore it altogether.

Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving Day was spent in giving thanks to the Heavenly Father for your many blessings while enjoying the festivities of the holiday with friends and family.

Shalom

Post Election 2012

It is now post election 2012 and the Wayfarer has been musing about the results of said election.  One could say the campaign of this latest election lasted four years, much too long for any political campaign.  Can it now be said it is over?  Actually, for the election just ending it is over, but does this mean the campaign for 2016 is now under way?  Let’s hope we have at least two years reprieve before the next one begins.

What, if anything, has been proven with the outcome of this election?  The trend of this great nation has become far more secular than in days of yore, creating a wide divide within the populace.  More and more people are disregarding the U.S. Constitution in favor of secularism.  Progressivism has been on the rise over the past couple of decades and the pace going that direction increases with each passing day.  This includes ignoring the standards set in the Bible, upon which this nation was founded.  If one can use the way a person votes as an indication of their philosophy then at least 51% of the country believe it’s all right to be indifferent toward the established morals of God’s Word.  It has become irrelevant to heed the basis which this nation was founded on, progressing to a more democratic/oligarchic approach of governance rather than that of a republic.

The going trend reveals very few “riding the middle of the road”, as gray grows blacker or whiter depending on personal ideology.  The Wayfarer has observed stronger arguments between the two sides than in previous times.  There are more people vocalizing their philosophy with greater passion, nearly coming to the point of physical combat, though there may be occasion where this has also occurred.  There is so much emotion involved, often without reason or logic.  Opinions are based on personal likes and dislikes (emotions) about morals rather than on pre-established standards of right and wrong/good and evil.

Many believe we have evolved to a greater understanding of what should or should not be which is in opposition to the once common understanding that the Bible is the authority upon which we have taken our standard of life’s moral relevance.  Where the Bible was once considered Truth by the majority it has now become “partial” truth.  It is up to “our” understanding to interpret the scriptures in a manner that satisfies our desires rather than that of God’s.  The scripture says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”  (Jer 17:9).   Many trust their “heart” to determine right from wrong, rather than relying on God’s Word to determine moral clarity and understanding. 

Issues once deemed evil by the majority are now called good by the more “enlightened”, issues such as abortion, same-gender marriage and use of marijuana to name a few.  The scriptures mention that men will call that which is good, evil and that which is evil, good.  This has become more evident today than any other time in the history of the United States.  Those who hold fast to their convictions based on Holy Writ are now deemed “intolerant” and lacking in compassion and understanding.  Those who take the opposing stand justify their convictions based on emotion and compassion and defend their position through intimidation and name-calling rather than upon standards which have stood the test of time.

The people have been fed lies so often many have come to believe them, proving the adage that telling a lie often enough people will believe it.  Deception of the masses is at an all-time high, which has hooked many to be reeled in.  Is this the time the Bible warns us of in 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12:

“…because they did not receive the love of the truth, so that they might be saved.  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, so that all those who do not believe the truth, but delight in unrighteousness, might be condemned.”

It seems this scripture is applicable for today conceptually, if not meant for now literally.

Where is this country headed?  Are we improving – getting better – or are we on the road to self-destruction?  Are the Holy Bible and the U.S. Constitution relevant for today or is it time they be discarded because we have advanced beyond the need for absolute standards of human governance?  Are you excited by the outcome or saddened by the progression being made today?  Have we gone beyond the recovery of past standards - out of our reach?  The Wayfarer is saddened, but not in despair.  It’s time we put our hope and trust in a loving Heavenly Father and not that of government.

Shalom.