A Thanksgiving Wish:

We brush history under the rug.
We celebrate death.
We don't acknowledge the death.
It becomes about buying stuff and sales.

We eat turkey but don't know why.
We don't know the turkey.
We don't see his eyes.
We don't say thank you.

We meet with family, play football, and celebrate.
We need this.
Yet it is so little.
But we need a break.

We call people pilgrims and Indians.
False names.
We don't know why.

Thanksgiving.
A time of thanks.
Deep thanks.
For the sacrifice, the lives lost.
For the time with each other.
For the break.
God give us a break.

We find gratitude in our hearts.
Deep gratitude for each other.
For all we have.
Time off.
Desperate need for time off.
Many people have time off.
God give us a break

Thanksgiving could be about reconciliation.
A promise not realized.
To Forgive someone.
Which we still haven't done.
A time to admit the tragedies,
listen to the pain,
ask for forgiveness
and move forward together.
A deep sigh of relief to admit it.
not in shame.
But in truth.
massacres upon massacres.
And move forward together.
An honest and authentic friendship.
but we must cry first.
Together.

Maybe we serve food to help others, but do we do this to save or fix ? Save Who?

Until then, we live in falsehoods.
And the people cry.
The ancestors cry.
The animals cry.
We live on the surface.
We buy things to self-soothe.
We numb the pain.

I wish for so much more.

May we breathe a collective sigh of relief.

May we enter our hearts.

Let us hold a new intention.

Let us put to bed the old story about thanksgiving.

Let us hold a new story.


This reflection is dedicated to the Washoe Tribe who I had the privilege to work with over last few years in the Bay Area.

For more of an an accurate story of thanksgiving, check out:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.businessinsider.com/history-of-thanksgiving-2017-11