In this recording within the We Believe Series, Thurman reflects upon the Thanksgiving season. He lists a litany of feelings, emotions, materials, and states of being that he is thankful for: air to breath, food to eat, shelter, love, etc. He then discerns the way in which humanity may overlook many of the things that humanity should be grateful for, and suggests that Thanksgiving should be approached as a sacrament which points one towards humility and gratitude. In this recording within the We Believe Series, Thurman reflects upon the meaning of "waiting." He defines waiting as the "interval between moments, experience, events, that are filled with activity." Waiting is dynamic in nature, and requires a true decision from the one who is participating: creatively participating in one's own life as it is manifested today, or longing for the life they will never have.

Part of the Collection, We Believe (Television Series, 1958-1965)

Tags: activity, ancestors, care, contentment, courage, creativity, crossroad, darkness, disaster, examine, Francis Thompson, gratitude, holidays, hope, humility, litany, love, magic, nostalgia, solitude, spirit, temptation, thanksgiving, unrest, waiting, will

Dustin Mailman

Recorded in WHDH-TV, Boston, Massachusetts

Citation: Thurman, Howard, “Thanksgiving and the Nature of Life (1963-11-22); Waiting Creatively (1959-06-12),” The Howard Thurman Digital Archive, accessed July 9, 2024, https://thurman.pitts.emory.edu/items/show/1238.