11-27-24

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
November 27, 2024
Today is that important holiday we call Thanksgiving Eve. Though I don’t know the story as well as I should, I believe it was the fall of 1621 that some of the Wampanoag people joined the English separatists (others would call them Pilgrims) for a multiple-day feast. This happened after the Wampanoag people had assisted the ill-prepared separatists in navigating their new surroundings, teaching them how to effectively utilize the soil, and preparing them for the significant changes in weather. This made sense because the Wampanoag people had coexisted with the land and environment for over 12,000 years. However, the story is not as idyllic as it is often portrayed in paintings, movies, or holiday mythology. Our perception of the English separatists encountering the indigenous people for the first time shortly after the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock is inaccurate. In reality, many diverse indigenous communities and tribes had been interacting with Europeans for a century before that group of religious separatists arrived at the Wampanoag village of Patuxet in 1620. 

The other aspect that I discovered a few years ago was that the Pilgrims, upon their arrival, encountered many of the Wampanoag villages deserted. Tools and shelters were left behind. Many of these separatists who had left England (via Holland) believed it was a divine blessing. However, in reality, previous Europeans had brought with them diseases that had already decimated the Wampanoag population, causing the death of 90% of their people. Within the next decade, the remaining Wampanoag population would meet the same fate. 

As with many aspects of life, history is often complex and can be further complicated by the desire to overlook unpleasant details. We remember things not to feel guilty about the past, but rather to gain a deeper understanding of what has brought us to this moment. If you feel guilty, consider seeking professional help from a therapist. The intention of remembering is multifaceted, but two crucial takeaways are: first, there was never a perfect moment in the past when everyone was happy and at peace; second, understanding the history decreases the likelihood of repeating previous decisions made due to lack of knowledge or inability to recognize the sacredness of others. As we approach Thanksgiving, I’m eager to delve deeper into the historical events that unfolded beyond the sanitized and idealized narratives we often associate with the holiday.

Continue to inspire curiosity, O Gracious Creator and Redeemer of all things. May the question I ask aid me in comprehending what can be understood, so that I do not find myself apologizing for doing the same thing others did in the past. Amen.