The peace of a dark dawn . . .

It is Thanksgiving Day . . . a harvest celebration with ancient roots around the world . . .

At the table today, a pause and reflection from Poet Laureate and my native Okieland and TulseyTown sister, Joy Harjo

And in keeping with all indigenous traditions, my own gesture of thanks . . .

Peace

Black trees, intense blue sky dawn.

Jay, Woodpecker, and Cardinal singing

Thanksgiving for this moment of peace.

– jb

Thanksgiving

Great Mystery, we thank you for this life.

We know we protest much:

The pain of growing and knowing

that it is we who assess our own costs.

Great Mystery thank you for this life —

for all life.

And for death and renewal;

for seasons and the history that brings us

to this celebration.

It is hard to be thankful for the opportunity to grieve,

when those occasions come.

The pain of loss often leads to doubt

and may cloud the memory of your many names:

How easy it is to forget that you move in darkness too.

Forgive our bias toward the light of your abundance,

and accept these thanks for it. They are as sincere

as the majesty and mystery and beauty of your universe.

Great Mystery, thank you for life,

for our lives,

and this occasion to live it.

– jb