Day 605 Wednesday, November 10, 2021

This Sunday's liturgy is heavily influenced with Native American flavor. At the same time, we will explore the world of gratitude

Thanksgiving, Gratitude and Gratefulness

by Steve Lyman

Fall is here, the leaves have turned their brilliant colors and are falling to the ground. There is chill and moisture in the air, our clocks have been turned back, and our celebration of Thanksgiving is rapidly approaching. This is our time for being with family, sharing a feast and just being grateful.

Most of us were raised with the story of the pilgrims peacefully sharing the first Thanksgiving meal with the native peoples of North America. But is there more to the story that we were not told? For many Native Americans, Thanksgiving is a day of mourning, a day of

Thanks-taking

Our liturgy this Sunday will attempt to find a balance between the truth of the first Thanksgiving without losing the importance of gratitude and being grateful. November is Native American Heritage Month so our liturgy is heavily influenced with Native American flavor.

At the same time, we will explore the world of gratitude. But sometimes we find ourselves struggling with gratitude and being grateful when our world is filled with so much uncertainty and darkness.

I have asked David to post on the blog this week two videos that I think are very powerful.

One is Joanna Macy addressing the Bioneers conference titled

The Hidden Promise of Our Dark Age.

Here is the link (please watch it before our Sunday celebration)

The presentation by Joanna Macy starts at 6 minutes into the video

https:///watch?v=vzmjF1jE2K0&t=407s

The second is Angeles Arrien speaking about

The Cornerstones of Wisdom, the Four-Fold Way.

Here is the link (please watch it before our Sunday celebration)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kDRRBK95no

I encourage you to view these videos prior to our Sunday liturgy

- Steve.

We are one generation through thousands of years,

mothers and fathers shaped by children to come,

who in their turn will overtake them.

We are endlessly offered into life, time is ours.

And what anyone of us might be worth,

who can ever know, who can ever tell.

- Rainer Maria Rilke