Thanksgiving and Peace
Thanksgiving is an annual tradition to give thanks for family, friends, and for what we have harvested in our lives. We may also give thanks to the God of our understanding, in our own way and in our own language. We may speak difference languages however all the languages are understood by God. This Thanksgiving I would like to suggest that we add something to this annual tradition. I am suggesting that we add – focusing on peace. Let’s become part of a movement for world peace by trying to understand each other in a deeper way. Let’s start appreciating each other. Let’s start being more tolerant of each other’s political beliefs, opinions, and spiritual language. Some of us are Republicans, some of us are Democrats and some of us belong to neither. Some of us give thanks to Jesus, some of us give thanks to Allah, some of us give thanks to Mother Earth and Father Sky, and some of us give thanks to the Universal Energy that is in all of us.
I think this story from Jewish folklore makes my point.
There is a story of a wicked priest who hated Jews. One day he summoned the chief rabbi and said to him, “I want to have a dispute with a Jew in the language of signs. I give you 30 days to prepare yourself, and if nobody appears to take part in the dispute, I shall order that all the Jews be killed.” What was the rabbi to do? He brought the bad tidings to his people and ordered them to fast and to pray in the synagogue. A week went by, two weeks, three weeks passed, but there was no one with the courage to accept the priest’s challenge and the great responsibility. It was already the fourth week, and still there was no one to represent the Jews in the dispute.Then along came a poultry dealer who had been away, bringing chickens from the nearby villages into the town. He had not heard what was going on there, but he noticed on his arrival that the market was closed, and at home he found his wife and children fasting, praying, and weeping.
“What is the matter?” asked the poultry dealer. His wife replied, “The wicked priest has ordered a Jew to hold a discussion with him in the language of signs. If there is no one who can do so, all of us will be killed.”
“Is that all the matter?” wondered the poultry dealer in surprise. “Go to the rabbi and tell him that I am ready to participate.”
“What are you talking about? How can you understand the priest? Greater and wiser men than you have not been willing to take upon themselves this task.” cried his wife.
“Why should you worry? In any case we shall all be killed.” And off they went together to the rabbi.
“Rabbi,” said the man, “I am ready to meet the priest!”
The rabbi blessed him. “May God help you and bring you success,”
So the priest was told that a Jew, sent by the rabbi, would hold a discussion with him in sign language. “You have to understand my signs and to answer them in the same way,” explained the priest to the Jew before a great assembly. Then he pointed a finger at him. In reply the Jew pointed two fingers. The priest took a piece of white cheese from his pocket. In reply the Jew took out an egg. Then the priest took the seeds of some grain and scattered them on the floor. In reply, the Jew set a hen free from the coop and let it eat up the seeds.
“Well done,” exclaimed the priest in amazement. “You answered my questions correctly.” And he gave the poultry dealer many gifts and ordered his servant to bathe him and to give him fine garments to wear.
“Now I know that the Jews are wise men, if the humblest among them was able to understand me” admitted the priest.
The town was in great excitement, and the people waited in suspense for the result of the dispute. When they saw the poultry dealer leaving the priest’s house in fine garment and with a happy expression on his face, they understood that everything was in order, blessed by the Almighty.
“How did it go? What did the priest ask you?” all the people wanted to know. The rabbi called the poultry dealer to his home and asked him to relate what had happened.
And this is what the poultry dealer related: “The priest pointed with one finger to my eyes, meaning to take out my eye. I pointed with two fingers to imply I would take out both his eyes. Then he took out a piece of cheese to show that I was hungry while he had cheese. So I took out an egg to show that I was not in need of his alms. Then he spilled some wheat grain on the floor. So I fed my hen, knowing it was hungry and thinking what a pity to waste this grain.”
At the same time the priest’s friends quested him. “What did you ask the Jew? What did he reply?”
The priest related: “At first I pointed one finger, meaning that there is only one king. He pointed with two fingers, meaning that there are two kings, the king in heaven and the king on earth. Then I took out a piece of cheese, meaning, “Is this cheese from a white or a black goat?” In answer he took out an egg, meaning, “Is this egg from a white or brown hen?” Finally I scattered some grain on the floor, meaning that the Jews are spread all over the world. Whereupon he freed his hen, which ate up all the grain, meaning that the Messiah will come and gather all the Jews from the four corners of the world. A smart man indeed.”
This Thanksgiving let’s reflect on harmony, and how we can do our part in working toward world peace and eliminate the divisions due to us not understanding and criticizing each other’s beliefs or spiritual language. Have a Happy Thanksgiving….and I appreciate all of you!
