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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
That’s unreasonable, isn’t it? Not everything benefits me; in fact, I don’t like a lot of what happens. Yet much of thankfulness has to do with our attitude toward life. Some people suffer through hardship or calamity and ask, “Why me?” Others realize it could have been worse and thank God it wasn’t. Some see gloom and doom, others opportunity to serve; instead of continually questioning their fate, they understand what they can and do what they must. True happiness depending on how much we put into life rather than how much we take from it. Interestingly enough, these contrasting ideals are graphically portrayed in two of the more famous settlements in American history; Jamestown and Plymouth.
Jamestown evokes memories of Capt. John Smith, Pocahontas, and death. Settled on May 14,1607, Jamestown became a magnet for street urchins, the unemployed and the gentleman adventurer as well as those who sought freedom and the benefits it offered. Yet this expedition was poorly planned and its objectives even more poorly executed; the building site was on marshland, provisions were in short supply, knowledge of the surrounding area non-existent and the Indians quickly angered by the colonists’ constant demand for food in the short-term and gold in the long. They planted little, living mostly hand to mouth as they looked to get rich quick and go back home to live in luxury. Weakness and fever brought on by the long sea voyage, malaria from the mosquito-infested swamp, starvation due to the lack of harvested crops, skirmishes with Indians and death as a result of the extreme Northeast winters took a terrible toll.
A particularly bad winter caught the colonists unprepared and un-provisioned, desperately waiting for a ship from England and hoping, in vain, to convince the Indians to help, resulting in what was called the “starving time.” In a desperate attempt to survive, they ate anything they could get their hands on; some resorting to cannabalism. May of 1610 brought the ships Deliverance and Patience to Jamestown’s dock to find only sixty souls alive, the town a shambles, the graveyard over-flowing. This was all that was left of the investment of 480 settlers the previous August. Re-supplied and re-settled – the dying continued.
For example, 1200 people went to Virginia in 1619, only 200 were still living in 1620. However, a census taken in 1622showed 1240 people in and around Jamestown. Encouraging? Hardly! 1580 new people had sailed for Jamestown, joining the 843living colonists there in 1621; the additional 397 noted in the census of 1622coming from this group of 1580. 1183had died en-route or soon after arriving in Virginia. And then, in this same year the Indians rose up in anger and wiped out a third of the remaining colonists in a bloody massacre.
The Plymouth Colony was founded by Pilgrims on Sept. 16,1620; the foundation of this colony being one of the major events in early American history. Their ship, financed by investors in exchange for most of the produce of the colonists’ first six years, was the Mayflower. The Puritans, among others, left from Plymouth, England for the New World, new opportunities, new freedoms, and new responsibilities. They wrote and signed the Mayflower Compact, the first constitutional policy statement in America; a significant first step toward democratic rule, signifying not only a desire to make a living but the desire to live well, to live free and to live as God and man should – in partnership.
Settlement was difficult. After a long and hazardous sea voyage of several months and its attendant illnesses, the colonists had to build shelter, plant crops, adjust to the new climate, hunt, fish, explore and make peace with neighboring Indians. The first winter was bad. Weakened by the voyage, lack of food and exposure to the elements, many died. But once gotten through, the opportunities to live well began to present themselves. And these people knew where their success came from. Hard work? Yes! Attention to detail? Absolutely! A willingness to sacrifice? Always! But they knew without God all was for naught.
A number of “coincidences” can be listed to bolster the idea of providential destiny and highlight their thankfulness as they settled in for the long term. They desired to live well but not merely get rich; taking advantage of freedom’s opportunities but living in such a way as to leave a legacy for those who would follow in their footsteps. They knew the meaning of Paul’s words recorded in 2 Corinthians 9:11 “You will be made rich in every way (in goods and goodly living) so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.”
In 1605, an Indian named Squanto was taken captive by European explorers along what was to become the New England coast. He was taken to England where he spent nine years, being educated and questioned about other Indian inhabitants and favorable places for colonization; returning to Cape Cod with John Smith’s mapping expedition in 1614. Thomas Hunt, commanding a sister ship along-side Smith’s stayed behind to dry and pack fish caught along the coast before returning to England, picking up an even more profitable cargo as he did so – Indians – to be sold as slaves. Lured aboard to barter over beaver skins, Squanto and twenty-six others were captured and transported back to Europe. A few, Squanto included, were bought by Spanish priests to save them from the rigors of slavery and taught the Christian faith. In time, Squanto was able to make his way back to England and became attached to an English merchant in London, embarking for Cape Cod once more in 1619. Upon arrival he found his entire tribe – and family – dead; probably from disease inadvertently brought over by the European explorers. Living with a neighboring tribe, he met Samoset, another Native American who had met Englishmen, learned their language, and been introduced to the settlers at Plymouth; who were near starvation. They subsequently taught them to catch eels, plant corn – fertilizing it with fish – hunt deer, plant pumpkins, refine maple syrup, identify and use healing herbs and to trap and trade beaver pelts; acting as guides and interpreters among other Indian tribes.
As a result of God’s blessing through Squanto and Samoset, as well as the Pilgrims hard work, they began to prosper. They in turn dedicated a day of thanksgiving to celebrate the bounty of the newly harvested crops, inviting the local Indians who had assisted them – who in turn brought venison, turkey and popcorn to the settler’s table. Never-the-less their second winter was again rough, ending with a daily food ration of just five kernels of corn apiece until the spring thaw – but all survived. They replanted their crops and gardens, hunted and fished, restocked their provisions from a passing trading ship and prepared to celebrate another Thanksgiving Day. (Which would later be recognized nationally as a “holiday.”) However, the first course that year was a reminder of past difficulties. On a plate in front of each colonist were five kernels of corn – and then the feast began; combining that remembrance of past difficulties with the realization of God’s continual provision. Among other things, passing on to us the conviction that, “…the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4,5
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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