Gratitude In A Time Of Change

 

Rugged waves and harsh weather struck turmoil to the Mayflower. Her noble sails whirled a mighty dance as the wind dragooned the ship onward atop the waters of the uncharitable Atlantic. Aboard this ship, a group of settlers heading for the “new world” held strong to the faith of their mission. The fog of England seemed like a distant memory, to most, as they waved in anticipation for the shores of what will become America. Due to the harsh weather the settlers were forced to stay below deck. They sang spiritual hymns and chanted proverb to keep their spirits afloat. Typhoid struck. The absence of enough food caused hunger and oppression. Disease captured the lives of travelers onboard resting their fate in the hands of the wintry seas. 

Sixty-six days they sailed on until the ship drooped anchor inside the hook tip of Cape Cod (Provincetown Harbor) on December 11, 1620. All the surviving passengers set ashore on Plymouth Rock. Here, they began their new life filled with new 0bsticals; obstacles that of which the natives of the land (the Indians) will soon help the Pilgrims overcome. 

The winter stuck like a thief in the night. The chill of the air captured the souls of the pilgrims. Hopes were buried along with the bodies of men, women and children, leaving the survivors desperate. Gratitude seemed like a distant conclusion that echoed somewhere inside a cornucopia of harvest. What could they be thankful for? Their new life was wreaked with havoc and death. Their survival seemed as bleak as the rotted decks of the Mayflower heard wailing in the night begging for a greener pasture. Yet amiss the darkness there was a light, a light in which the pilgrims developed the strength to carry on and withstand any storm. This light, which summoned a glorious spring, enlightened the land and an Indian named Tanto. Learning to set aside their differences, with his guidance the pilgrims learned how to grow crops and tame the fruitful soil. Corn, beans as well as pumpkins were planted. They became the menu that would hopefully serve as nourishment for the people.

A drought hit Plymouth Rock that summer of 1621. Sweltering the land and depleting the soil. Again hope became synonymous with thoughts of peril. Through fasting and ritual prayer, the pilgrims called on God for rain to save their crops. Despite their fears of a long-lasting drought, they stayed within the light in which they cultivated. Because o this, God answered their plea and the skies darkened and spilled refreshing rain onto the earth. The crops were saved and the pilgrims rejoiced. They now found themselves rich inside a cornucopia of plenty and joy. Their hearts glistened along with the golden heads of corn. Their gratitude bloomed like the robust pumpkins. 

A heart warmed community emerged and in November 1621 they prepared an enormous feast to bare their thanks and appreciation to God, each other and the Indians. A celebration of life and companionship was had by all. It lasted three full days and is thought today to be the mark of the first Thanksgiving. 

How joyous is the thought of the pilgrims and their resilience! Their willingness to learn and their faith that encouraged them to believe! What can we learn from them? 

This Thanksgiving Let us focus on gratitude. As we sit in our cushy couches next to our stocked refrigerators watching the “The Crown” on our flat screen TV’s, let us take a deep breath and for one moment thank the universe for all we have. Thank God for the ample abundance found in our every day lives. “I thank God for my warm bed and bless those without. I thank God for my clean pajamas and send a prayer to those children who sleep in rags”. If all we have is one dollar in our two-season’s ago jean’s pockets, give thanks for it, for some wear the same pants every day and beg for a dollar on the busy street corner. Take another moment to bless and show love to our fore fathers for taking the burden off of us by making their heroic journey and forming our country. Give thanks to them because of their suffering and hard work we have what we have today! We have so much to be grateful for in our lives and I hope this newsletter will remind us to take the timeout to do so. 

Giving Thanks 

A great way to give thanks is through creativity. This is honoring our God-given talents by using them to make others happy. Perhaps sending an original poem to someone we love. Or if visual art is our thing, we can create a card or draw a picture and present it to someone to show our appreciation for his or her love. Honoring the people in our lives that touch us and help us to grow is at the heart of what Thanksgiving stands for. We might not have a field with crops to bless, but we do have a world of people who helped us cultivate and seed our own well-being. Our lives forever changed by their unselfish actions. Who are these people in our lives? Let us rejoice in them; our friends, family, neighbors elders and teachers of all kinds. Remember that behind every fancy car, piece of bread, article of clothing electronic device, and kiss and hug lies a person who is hard at work so that we may have what the pilgrims hoped one day they will, a life of plenty and joy blessed with love! 

Quarantine Thanksgiving

I know, this is not an easy time for anyone. Loneliness and feelings of uncertainty rattle our minds as we figure out if we are able to spend the holidays with our loved ones or not because of covid-19. Being isolated from our family and friends takes a toll. We want nothing more than to regal each other in stories and cheer while sipping champagne and eating pumpkin pie. Yet out of this pandemic grew something beautiful, hope and perseverance! Like the settlers, we had to adapt to a new life faced with uncertainty, fear and even death. We are facing these challenges head on and are determined to do and be whatever we can to keep a semblance of life momentum. This has proven to be hard task when humanity has been placed on hold and all our comforts taken away. The truth is, perhaps what was once comfortable is no longer meant to be. Change is outside of the box. Beyond the realm of our safe reality. Change forces us to face our limitations and create a new sense of self living in an unfamiliar world. We see people struggle to hold on to the old way. We see darkness emerge and hate explode. A people faced with change dangling off a cliff that were not ready to jump now plummeting head first towards shaky ground. How beautiful! Divinity shines in face of terror. It shakes life up and creates movement where there was once stagnation. A flow towards joy; as the saying goes... "out of darkness we find light". 

I​s it possible for you be grateful during this pandemic. The answer is simple...100% yes! Be thankful you are you because you have allowed yourself to feel, grieve and learn hard lessons this past year all while keeping your sense of humor! You embody the triumphant optimism of the pilgrims and just as they found the time to celebrate, so will you! You have more to celebrate this year than ever before. Life! People are dying even as I write this. Take a deep breath and bask in the glory of your lungs. Listen to your heartbeat and dwell in the wonderment of life. Taste and see all the food you have to eat and then take your friends or family members by the hand and thank them for sharing their lives with you on this day! 

"I thank the land and the mighty hand that feeds the world. Rejoice in abundance and the gifts of finest wheat! Come give to us Oh saving lord the bread of life to eat!"

James Bene 

www.benemudra.com

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