My First Thanksgiving in a Far Away Land

Turkey Day Run

If I had to guess, there were more than 1,000 turkey trot road races that took place on Thanksgiving, and you can add Balad to the list. In my opinion, a road race is a great way to kick off the holiday as your running efforts will burn enough calories to justify an extra roll, slice of pie, or whatever you so desire. I know all you non-runners out there are shaking you head in disagreement. 

My teammate Neelum and I are both runners, having only participated in races, not assisting with them. We volunteered to run a water station at the 10k, with the runners passing by our stand twice on their route. I now have a new found respect for the people who distribute water during road races. I’m not sure if it was the poor quality of the cups or my lack of hand-off skills, but I left a few people wet and thirsty.

I think we filled the cups too high and I couldn’t seem to find the exact moment when I needed to release my grip. Add the fact that most runners didn’t want to stop or even slow down, and you are faced with quite a challenge. Nonetheless, we had a lot of “thank you’s” and I think all of the participants enjoyed the fact that we were cheering them on. 

Second chances don’t often come along …but thanks to a circle route, I had an opportunity to redeem myself. On the second go-around, more runners were in the mood for water, and I finally began to get into a groove.

Forget not what He has done for us; Thanksgiving Reflections

I may have mentioned this previously, but I started going to a series on Sunday evenings called the Truth Project, which goes in-depth on what a Christian worldview looks like. One module focusing on history discussed the fact that our society no longer includes God in modern academics, and has even begun to cut Him out of our history. Even people who are Christians can go days without acknowledging the role of the Lord in their lives. Yet, this very holiday, Thanksgiving, is centered on remembering our God. This passage was read at the chapel service I attended on Thursday. I believe. Mr. Abe Lincoln hits the nail on the head in his Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1863, that reads:

“It is the duty of nations as well as of people to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God…We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us…Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of the redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us…It has seemed to me fit and proper that God should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwell in the heavens.”

A Mini Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

 Eclectic is not generally a term to be associated with the military. But that is the only world that seems fitting to describe the DFACs on Thanksgiving. Upon walking into the dining hall, there before me is what I would describe as a mini Thanksgiving Day parade. Rather than describe the float’s intricacies, I tried to include a video, but a slow internet connection and large file size make multimedia impossible at the moment. I think the fresh fruit cornucopias were my favorite, though I half wish they would have served the fruit rather than displaying it. 

Posing with Blake,  one of our Red Cross Volunteers!

A sample of the floats.

Where I was, Where I am now

Approximately one year ago, I was on a plane headed to spend Thanksgiving with my brother; destination Hawaii. From tropical oasis, to a dry desert, what a difference a year can make. Though I enjoyed my day, meal time was one of the more anticlimactic events of the day. Perhaps it is because having your own family gathered around a table in front of a meal with your favorite foods is very difficult to simulate. But I enjoyed my company, Neelum and one of our volunteers, Stephen. And a lot if effort was put into serving a good meal, sparkling grape juice included. 

Enjoying good company at our Thanksgiving Meal.