Today is Thanksgiving. It is not a religious holiday but a cultural holiday remembering back to the first feast when the Pilgrims arrived and gathered to feast with indigeneous people. But it was not until 1777 that the first official holiday was declared. Gifted with hindsight, we debate just what that first Thanksgiving meal was like. We do know new people to the Americas fled countries where they did not feel welcome. They found a new life that resulted in the death of many. This week we looked at Moses who fled Egypt, a country where the Israelites had been enslaved, and Rahab, the “indigeneous” person, who sided with Joshua, the foreigner, who led people that conquered land. How do we survive those dismal times when life is so hard, decisions so complicated, and we face starting all over? How do I step into widowhood? One solution is to call a time out for Thanksgiving, go to the house of worship for our faith, and look at the blessings amidst the trials. I chose Psalm 103 for us to read today. It affirms God’s blessings in the midst of tough times. Let us focus on the positive today and God’s presence journeying with us.
Psalm 103 by King David
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits—
3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the Pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good as long as you live
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6 The Lord works vindication and justice for all who are oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.
8 The Lord is merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he keep his anger for ever.
10 He does not deal with us according to our sins,
nor repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so great is his steadfast love towards those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far he removes our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion for his children,
so the Lord has compassion for those who fear him.
14 For he knows how we were made; he remembers that we are dust.
15 As for mortals, their days are like grass;
they flourish like a flower of the field;
16 for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more.
17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,
18 to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments.
19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens,
and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding,
obedient to his spoken word.
21 Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers that do his will.
22 Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul.
On the Way to Wonder 