Thanksgiving
The original Thanksgiving was a raw sigh of relief, an acknowledgment of survival, and a tribute to the cross-cultural relationships that made it possible. Amen. Like the pilgrims, we can look back on this year and soberly reflect that survival was not a given. We can remember the colleagues that have fallen at our side, some to death like Dr. Jonah, others to illness, attrition, weariness, and changing life plans. But also like the pilgrims, we can say that, by God's enduring mercy and unfathomable disparity of action, here we are a year later, even though some others are not.
Last night the Pierces hosted a party in their yard, the entire staff Christ School and our team circled in the lantern-light to give tribute to the year gone by, and to say goodbye to Madame Betty, deputy headmaster and faithful teacher for the last 5 years. There were skits and speeches and the requisite food, starlight and cake and an ending song of praise. Today we will have a more American Thanksgiving dinner at our house, the live turkey a few hours ago causing a ruckus being chased by the dog who was being chased by the kids who were being chased by me . . .
I am struck by the way that feasting occurs right on the edge of death, by the courage of the pilgrims to initiate a banquet having so closely averted famine. Sharing food and wine and fellowship in a place where disaster hovers . . .that seems to be in the spirit of Thanksgiving. And in the spirit of the Lord's supper, the intermingling of eating and drinking with the impending reality of death and sacrifice. So today will be another poignant milestone. Two years ago the Pierces were brand new to our team, and Dr. Jonah ate Thanksgiving dinner with all of us in their home, he had not yet moved his family back out to Bundibugyo. I remember him seated by Julia, participating in the game of telephone we played with messages around the table, laughing. Last year we were aware of the mystery disease, but the announcement of ebola was still a week away. This year we have much to be thankful for, perhaps even moreso because of our awareness of the nearness of that line between survival and sadness.
Give thanks to the Lord, for his mercy endures forever. And nothing else really does.
The original Thanksgiving was a raw sigh of relief, an acknowledgment of survival, and a tribute to the cross-cultural relationships that made it possible. Amen. Like the pilgrims, we can look back on this year and soberly reflect that survival was not a given. We can remember the colleagues that have fallen at our side, some to death like Dr. Jonah, others to illness, attrition, weariness, and changing life plans. But also like the pilgrims, we can say that, by God's enduring mercy and unfathomable disparity of action, here we are a year later, even though some others are not.
Last night the Pierces hosted a party in their yard, the entire staff Christ School and our team circled in the lantern-light to give tribute to the year gone by, and to say goodbye to Madame Betty, deputy headmaster and faithful teacher for the last 5 years. There were skits and speeches and the requisite food, starlight and cake and an ending song of praise. Today we will have a more American Thanksgiving dinner at our house, the live turkey a few hours ago causing a ruckus being chased by the dog who was being chased by the kids who were being chased by me . . .
I am struck by the way that feasting occurs right on the edge of death, by the courage of the pilgrims to initiate a banquet having so closely averted famine. Sharing food and wine and fellowship in a place where disaster hovers . . .that seems to be in the spirit of Thanksgiving. And in the spirit of the Lord's supper, the intermingling of eating and drinking with the impending reality of death and sacrifice. So today will be another poignant milestone. Two years ago the Pierces were brand new to our team, and Dr. Jonah ate Thanksgiving dinner with all of us in their home, he had not yet moved his family back out to Bundibugyo. I remember him seated by Julia, participating in the game of telephone we played with messages around the table, laughing. Last year we were aware of the mystery disease, but the announcement of ebola was still a week away. This year we have much to be thankful for, perhaps even moreso because of our awareness of the nearness of that line between survival and sadness.
Give thanks to the Lord, for his mercy endures forever. And nothing else really does.
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