"Time To Regroup" - Hebrews 10:11-25 - November 19, 2000

Today, we are here to give thanks to God for all that has been given. And as we celebrate yet another Thanksgiving we are once again reminded of the commitment by the Pilgrims. Those settlers had to overcome difficult circumstances and still found it within their hearts to give thanks for all God had done for them.

Times are greatly different. We are not at odds with Great Britain, nor are we in conflict with Indians. We have many modern conveniences and we live in a land of prosperity and freedom. Nevertheless, we are not without problems. We are trying to resolve a presidential election which has been clouded with suspicion, partisan politics, doubt and confusion. Many are crying foul, others complaining of unfairness and the confusion and arguments in the courts linger on. Where will it all end?

I believe that much can be gleaned from our lesson in Hebrews. For them it was a time to regroup and the same applies to us today. In order for the nation to be celebrating Thanksgiving in the future we will have to collect ourselves and follow several of the same words of wisdom as outlined in this letter to the Hebrews.

First, let us forgive. Jesus said he would "remember our sins no more." Without forgiveness we are paralyzed, unable to move forward and recover the freedom that is ours to enjoy. Like most of you I have been following the election story in Florida. One evening I heard a member of the media say, "I’m surprised that we aren’t having a civil war in this country. People actually seem to be more patient than I ever realized." Perhaps our society is not as obsessed with our politics as we are led to believe. Perhaps that after all is said and done we are still a nation who can forgive and live with the outcome whatever it may be.

I am a veteran of the Vietnam War. When I returned from overseas we were not greeted with ticker tape parades and a hero’s welcome. If anything, we were looked down upon as a bunch of failures and losers. It was equally difficult for me to forgive my colleagues who decided to flee to Canada and escape the draft. I remember vividly when President Carter granted them amnesty and permitted them the opportunity to return to the US. It took me awhile to forgive them just as it has taken time for society to forgive the veterans of Vietnam for not winning the war in Vietnam.

No doubt we will soon finally know who the next president is. Regardless of how it turns out there will be millions who will not like the outcome. Will they forgive? Most will, I believe, in time. Others, unfortunately will not find it in their hearts. Jesus forgave and forgiveness is at the heart of what it means to be people of faith.

Second, we are challenged to live with "a full assurance of faith." Somehow we have lost sight that God is still ultimately in control. I appreciate the comments of Sandy Van Ocra. He commented on the "faith" that has sustained us through worse problems than a controversial election. Fear is what shakes our faith. Fear causes panic or disables our ability to act in responsible ways. Fear keeps us from knowing our neighbors. Fear keeps us from realizing our dreams and living in peace. Faith helps us to move forward, to reach our goals and realize our full potential.

Third, "Let us hope without wavering." The Pilgrims were refugees who came to America to escape religious persecution. They had little hope of ever being able to successfully overthrow the domination of the King of England. Seeing themselves as the "chosen elect," they came here to build a new kingdom. It took years of struggle, even a revolutionary war. But they realized their goal and their freedom was eventually achieved.

They had hope because they believed that God was with them. God also gave them hope through an Indian named Squanto. He was from the village of Patuxet and a member of the Pokanokit Wampanoag nation. Fifteen years before the Pilgrims came, Squanto went to England with an explorer, John Weymouth. He learned to speak English. He eventually returned to New England but was captured by a British slaver who sold him to the Spanish and shipped him to a Caribbean Island. A Spanish Franciscan priest befriended Squanto and helped him get on a ship to Spain then on to England. He then found Captian Weymouth who paid his way back to New England.

Squanto became the one person that helped to bring the Indians and Pilgrims together. The Pilgrims were in desperate conditions and Squanto helped to provide food and shelter. He stayed with them and taught them how to survive in the new wilderness. He taught them how to grow crops and build homes. They also built one European style building made of logs which became their church.

Fourth, "Let us stir up one another to love and good works." The Pilgrims were determined to eliminate the Indians from their new found land. The Wampanoags and the Iroguois were not all that friendly. The Indians had been defending themselves for over six hundred years. They had encounters with European fisherman and explorers, especially European slave traders. They did not trust these new settlers. Ironically their religion taught them to give charity to the helpless and be hospitable. In the spirit of love they supplied the majority of the food for that first Thanksgiving meal. It was mainly due to the kindness of the Indians that the Pilgrims survived those early times.

Just as Thanksgiving is an opportunity for us to remember our roots, these four principles in Hebrews remind us of the most basic principles of what we believe; Forgiveness, faith, hope and love.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio