Harvest Thanksgiving

"And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land he has given you." Deuteronomy 8.10

A pause to acknowledge today as an opportunity to thank God for the bounty of land, sea, air and life...

The fecundity of the soil, the abundance beneath the surface of the ocean, even the fruit that is to be gleaned from the air confirm the generous provision of God. When viewed in that light, it is hardly surprising that he expects fruit from our lives too. Like the food we harvest, human fruit requires both cultivation and a suitable environment. More generally, we are learning the importance of the latter as the impact of climate change takes it toll. But what can - indeed, must - be done about the former, cultivation of our lives, especially in the context of a society which is in ever greater denial of the essence of personal fruitfulness: faith in God?

Celebrating Harvest Thanksgiving may seem quaint in an age where we enjoy a perpetual harvest of food and just about every other material blessing we can imagine. Yet it invites to realise these other aspects of fruitfulness, reflecting on our progress and challenging our willingness to share. Of the physical harvest "there is enough for everyone's need but not for our greed" as the cliche has it. The spiritual harvest requires no such restraint. Time to get digging!