Great and Noble Tasks

The Pilgrims' Real Thanksgiving Lesson

The First Thanksgiving

Posted from The Beacon.

—

Feast and football. That’s what many of us think about at Thanksgiving. Most people identify the origin of the holiday with the Pilgrims’ first bountiful harvest. But few understand how the Pilgrims actually solved their chronic food shortages.

Many people believe that after suffering through a severe winter, the Pilgrims’ food shortages were resolved the following spring when the Native Americans taught them to plant corn and a Thanksgiving celebration resulted. In fact, the pilgrims continued to face chronic food shortages for three years until the harvest of 1623. Bad weather or lack of farming knowledge did not cause the pilgrims’ shortages. Bad economic incentives did.

In 1620 Plymouth Plantation was founded with a system of communal property rights. Food and supplies were held in common and then distributed based on “equality” and “need” as determined by Plantation officials. People received the same rations whether or not they contributed to producing the food, and residents were forbidden from producing their own food. Governor William Bradford, in his 1647 history, Of Plymouth Plantation, wrote that this system “was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort.” The problem was that “young men, that were most able and fit for labour, did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense.” Because of the poor incentives, little food was produced.

Faced with potential starvation in the spring of 1623, the colony decided to implement a new economic system. Every family was assigned a private parcel of land. They could then keep all they grew for themselves, but now they alone were responsible for feeding themselves. While not a complete private property system, the move away from communal ownership had dramatic results.

This change, Bradford wrote, “had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.” Giving people economic incentives changed their behavior. Once the new system of property rights was in place, “the women now went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set corn; which before would allege weakness and inability.”

Once the Pilgrims in the Plymouth Plantation abandoned their communal economic system and adopted one with greater individual property rights, they never again faced the starvation and food shortages of the first three years. It was only after allowing greater property rights that they could feast without worrying that famine was just around the corner.

We are direct beneficiaries of the economics lesson the pilgrims learned in 1623. Today we have a much better developed and well-defined set of property rights. Our economic system offers incentives for us—in the form of prices and profits—to coordinate our individual behavior for the mutual benefit of all; even those we may not personally know.

It is customary in many families to “give thanks to the hands that prepared this feast” during the Thanksgiving dinner blessing. Perhaps we should also be thankful for the millions of other hands that helped get the dinner to the table: the grocer who sold us the turkey, the truck driver who delivered it to the store, and the farmer who raised it all contributed to our Thanksgiving dinner because our economic system rewards them. That’s the real lesson of Thanksgiving. The economic incentives provided by private competitive markets where people are left free to make their own choices make bountiful feasts possible.

Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

I'm playing this lovely hymn for church this Sunday, and as I was practicing this afternoon, I realized that I'd forgotten how much I love the words. May this encourage you today!

"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah"

by William Williams, 1745

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah, pilgrim through this barren land;

I am weak, but thou art mighty; hold me with thy pow'rful hand;

Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven,

feed me till I want no more, feed me till I want no more.

Open now the crystal fountain, whence the healing stream doth flow;

let the fire and cloudy pillar lead me all my journey through;

strong Deliv'rer, strong Deliv'rer,

be thou still my strength and shield, be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan, bid my anxious fears subside;

death of death, and hell's destruction, land me safe on Canaan's side;

songs of praises, songs of praises

I will ever give to thee, I will ever give to thee.

Tahoe 2010

After two glorious weeks in paradise (otherwise known as Lake Tahoe), I do have to admit that it's wonderful to come home to...

... my own bed and pillows and blankets.

... a bathroom that seems HUGE and full of elbow-room and counter-space (never take those things for granted!).

... a house with clean floors that don't make my feet filthy every night by bedtime.

... consistent cell reception.

... my piano.

... a very happy, filthy, stinky doggie.

But as I reflect on those fabulous two weeks, I miss...

... such wonderful time with family.

... after-dinner conversations and laughter with the whole family together.

... the breathtaking view and the lake literally out our back door (a mere three flights of stairs off the back deck).

... sand between my toes and the crystal-clear lake water.

... relaxing afternoons spent reading on the beach (I finished The Giver and am about 3/4 through The Count of Monte Cristo -- the unabridged version!).

... game evenings around the living room game table.

... cooking with the stereo blasting (we divided the cooking between couples this year, with each couple preparing two dinners, and it worked out great!).

... gorgeous sunrises and sunsets over the lake.

It's good to be home. But oh, how hard it was to leave.

More thoughts and pictures coming soon. Promise. =)

Cleaning and packing and excitement, oh my!

It's amazing how when one phase of life ends, another begins with just as much vigor and hectic-ness. My just-completed college phase has given way to a new phase full of work and projects, and right now, preparations for vacation. It's after 9:00pm and I'm still cleaning like a maniac, so this post really only consists of random thoughts for the day...

- I have an even dozen books stacked up on my desk to take with me on vacation. Yes, perhaps I'm a bit over-ambitious. We'll see how many of those actually get read, but hey, it's worth a try!

- Soundtracks are awesome accompaniment to excitement. Meg & I rediscovered Open Range today, and I have to admit that I had forgotten how epic it is.

- I once heard that it has been scientifically proven that people who have trips and vacations to look forward to are happier people. I believe it. There is so much excitement around our house right now.

- Lunches with Katie are wonderful.

And that is all I have time for today. =)

Happy July, everyone!

Sadly neglected

Yes, my blog has been quite sadly neglected of late.

Life has been a whirlwind.

But things are settling down! (Or at least moving to a new/different level of busy-ness.) Perhaps the most important reason is my recent completion of my very last college course. That's right, I'm DONE. I should be receiving my diploma within the next few weeks, and I could not be more thrilled. Life has now switched to a completely different gear, and I love the change of pace.

In my newfound extra time, as I attempt to be productive and efficient, I have been inspired by the idea of a plethora of do-it-yourself projects. Due to brilliant blogs like Young House Love and Life in Grace, I feel like my head has become a veritable DIY factory, just ready to explode with ideas. Any favorite DIY-type blogs that y'all like to follow?

My job is expanding in exciting and exhilarating ways, and I am thrilled to be a part of it all. My newest project: grant-writing. My knowledge is mere bare-bones, but I plan to spend the next several weeks educating myself, and then dive into the overwhelming world of grant requests and funding proposals. I'm excited!

In the short-term future, we now have less than a week before these two arrive!

And just several days after that, we all pack it up for two weeks of vacation bliss.

"LET IT BEGIN, LET IT BEGIN!!!!!"

The best and worst of CCM

I have had a real love-hate relationship with contemporary Christian music for about the last eight to ten years. There was a time when I listened to CCM constantly—I knew almost every song on the radio, and my dad and I would even have contests whenever we would get in the car to see who could guess the song and artist first in the shortest amount of time. Then sometime after the car-contest-era, I swore off CCM completely. As my family and I came to a deeper, thoroughly Reformed theological understanding, I became increasingly frustrated with the simplistic, shallow nature of the vast majority of contemporary Christian music. Every time I turned on the radio, I would get so discouraged that I would almost immediately turn it off again. There was no depth—no reverence—no sense of awe at a majestic, awesome, holy God. I quit listening.

I developed a keen interest in film scores—you know, the instrumental backing to a movie that provides much of the emotional framework for the story’s impact. I became a soundtrack geek, rediscovering a sampling of classical music at the same time. My taste in music became gradually more and more eclectic in nature; I delved into Celtic music, and I even developed an enthusiasm for orchestrated metal. The depth and complexity of the music (and, oftentimes, the lyrics as well) was, and is, fascinating. But still no CCM. None at all.

It’s been several years since then, and I have now reached the point where I can again listen to CCM in moderate doses. I have discovered that there are actually some songs and artists that are worth listening to. Yes, there is much that deserves to be thrown out the window. But there is also some that adequately expresses the glory of the cross, the incredible gift of redemption, and the unmerited favor that is our salvation in Christ. You have to dig harder to find it. But it is out there.

Today as I was driving home from work, with my radio tuned to one of the valley’s Christian radio stations, I heard a song that personifies everything I learned to hate about contemporary Christian music. I do have to admit that this is one song that I really can’t stand to let play. Any time it comes on while I happen to be listening, I just have to turn it off. It’s nothing personal against the song or the artist, but it demonstrates oh-so-clearly not only the lack of depth but also the complete lack of theological understanding that permeates much of the Christian music scene. The song is by Francesca Battistelli, and part of the lyrics go like this: “‘Cause I got a couple dents in my fender / got a couple rips in my jeans / try to fit the pieces together / but perfection is my enemy / on my own I’m so clumsy / but on Your shoulders I can see / I’m free to be me.”

Now, I don’t know about you, but I know for a fact that I have a whole lot more that is wrong with my heart than “a couple dents in my fender” or “a couple rips in my jeans”. Perfection is not just my enemy—it’s absolutely unattainable in this life. I’m more than just clumsy; I’m absolutely lost and helpless apart from One who is greater than I. Salvation isn’t just about finding that I am “free to be me”. It’s about falling down at the foot of the cross, acknowledging my sinful soul and my absolute dependence upon my Savior, and looking to Him alone to bring me to heaven. It’s about the glorious and inexplicable truth that although I can do absolutely nothing to bring my sinful heart into submission to Him, yet He looks upon me not in myself, but in Christ, and Christ’s merit covers my sin completely. I am free and forgiven, in Him. Now that is something worth singing about! Unfortunately, however, the true glory of the Gospel rarely comes across in its fullness in much of Christian pop music.

There are some exceptions, though. Michael Card, for example, has always been one of my favorite artists. Not only is his music unique and beautiful, but his lyrics also reflect the highs and lows of the Christian life, and the full range of Christian experience. I recently have been listening to his “Ancient Faith” album, a 2-disc masterpiece that starts at creation and explores many of the themes of the Old Testament. It is truly magnificent. Comparing the songs from “Ancient Faith” to the song I was quoting earlier… well, the contrast is stark. Card’s music carries with it a sense of reverence and awe in the face of a holy God. His lyrics reflect what it truly means to be a Christian—from the depths of despair to the heights of rejoicing. He digs deep into the Scriptures and mines gems that are expressed with perhaps greater power and poignancy through music. Music is meant to display the full range of human emotion, and especially for the Christian artist, the full range of spiritual emotion. Card does so. Artists like Michael Card have gradually brought me back around to listening to CCM again.

I still am a soundtrack geek. I still like a good dose of orchestrated metal. I wouldn’t say that I am, generally speaking, a fan of contemporary Christian music. But I am glad to have reached the point again where I can turn on Christian radio without cringing.