Thanksgiving Lauds
When I was in seminary I made several retreats at the Abbey of Gethsemani in Bardstown, Kentucky. It's a wonderful place, at that time the home of the great Catholic mystic and writer Thomas Merton. Given that it is a cloistered monastery, we could visit but the monks could never leave. Early in its history it was entirely silent as well. The monks would work, eat, and live together with no conversation, nothing more than the essential directions, like "Stop that tractor before you run over me!" The only time there were any voices was in the chapel as the monks gathered for the daily offices. For an evangelical protestant from Asbury, it was a fascinating experience which deepened my sense of the Holy. I understand things have changed in the years since I went there. They've loosened up some of the rigid disciplines. Visitors can now join the monks in the choir stalls rather than being relegated to the balcony and I understand they even allow women on the property today! But one thing never changes--that is the dependable and consistent pattern of prayer, the offices of the day which date back to the 6th century and the rule of St. Benedict. Their day begins with the first office of the day, usually at 3:00am. It is called "Lauds". The word "Lauds" of course comes from the Latin laudate, which means praise.
"Laudate Dominus, Omenes gentes"
"Praise the Lord, all the nations".
What a wonderful way to begin the day (even at 3:00am!)--with praise. This week we share in what has been called the quintessential American holiday. You can question whether turkey was actually on the menu of the first Thankgiving in the Plymouth colony. In fact, some question whether there really was a "first Thanksgiving", rather believing that the tradition sprang up later and we read it back into our founding. Frankly, it doesn't really matter. What does matter is that giving thanks is a part of who we are. It is part of our lasting tradition to acknowledge God as the giver of every good gift and to give thanks for the bounty of this blessed and fruitful land. It is to say thank you to Native Americans and exiled Pilgrims for a land that welcomes the immigrant to it's shores. And it is to commit ourselves once again to the tradition of recognizing God as the giver of life and the practice of welcoming the immigrant, "e pluribus unium", out of the many, we are one. If you are available Tuesday night, I invite you to join in the Community Thanksgiving Service at the Birmingham Congregational Church on Woodward at 7:30pm.
I'd like to begin every day, not just Thanksgiving day, with praise. I'd like to welcome every morning with "Lauds". Just don't ask me to do it at 3:00am!
A joyous and blessed thanksgiving to you all.
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