Sometimes one is asked to “say a few words” before a Thanksgiving meal.
What should one say, when:
- One is not religious and/or does not identify with the predominant religious identity of the assembled group of people?
- The assembled group itself is religiously diverse?
- One wants to show equal respect to participants and people of a variety of religious views or backgrounds?
- More than one of the above?
One approach is to offer a “Thanksgiving prayer” that is overtly non-religious, but that nevertheless urges thankful reflection, and that “blesses” the meal through a sincere expression of thanks. As an added bonus, anyone who wants to express appreciation to any deity is in no way impeded from doing so.
Here is an illustrative “Thanksgiving prayer” for such situations. Copy it if you wish, or shorten or otherwise edit it, or write your own; but remember that it is always possible to solemnize an occasion without any reference to any supernatural entity.
A Non-theist's Thanksgiving Prayer
Let us all pause, in silence
And close our eyes
And take a few moments
To reflect upon those things
For which we ought to give thanks,
All of us,
According to our beliefs
Each in our own way.
Let us set aside any notion
Of taking anything for granted,
And recognize an "attitude of gratitude"
For there are a great many things
That should prompt us
To be thankful.
Let us be thankful for family,
That we are together,
That we can laugh and catch up on old times.
For those that have traveled,
We may be thankful for their safe arrivals.
For those whose presence is virtual,
We may be thankful that virtual get-togethers
Are now possible and practical.
Let us be thankful for our health
Especially during this difficult period.
Some of us have experienced difficulties
In the past year,
But we have survived with spirits intact.
We may genuinely feel gratitude for that.
Let us remember also our dear friends,
Our loving animal family members,
Our neighbors, our colleagues,
All of those to whom we owe
A debt of gratitude
For their support, their humble assistance,
Their companionship.
And let us not forget the food!
It did not come to us on its own,
But comes to us due to the labor
Of many, many others.
We owe our thanks to them.
So let us pause and say "Thank you"
To ALL of those who helped
To make this Thanksgiving Day a reality.
Let us pause, and say thanks,
All of us,
Each in our own way.
(Pause for reflection)
Amen.