Sing to the Lord of Harvest

In Guyana, we do not celebrate Thanksgiving.  But in November, churches at least, celebrate Harvest festivals.  The church is decorated with local produce, and the theme of the day takes a break from the long sundays of Pentecost to give thanks for the Lord's bounty.  The timing of the celebration in this land of near perpetual harvest seems to come from the North American and European connections that most of the Christian Churches have.  Also there is an ulterior motive by way of a special collection that rivals Christmas or Easter in size.  Still, as one of the Caribbean hymns proclaims:

 The fields of sugarcane and rice are ready to be reaped.

 We'll thank the Lord, in him rejoice, for food galore now heaped.

 And in a country where poverty and hunger are never too far away, a harvest festival becomes important -- a chance to see abundance in the context of our worship, when more often we see the struggle to make ends meet and keep food on the table.
   Harvest is not the festival of homecoming that Thanksgiving has become in North America.  There are no Pilgrims or Turkeys [unless you count the turkey hot dogs for sale in the Supermarkets].  It's not even the same Sunday in every church.  But it is a festival anticipated and enjoyed by everyone -- a festival of thankfulness that goes beyond mere survival -- a time to know that no matter what our circumstance, we are blessed.

Something worth celebrating.