Christopher Columbus, Canada, and us

A few weeks ago, maybe you got a day off work or your children were home from school in observance of Columbus Day. Or maybe you knew it was Columbus Day because of store ads offering special deals for the holiday. If you're like me, and like many other people, you probably didn't notice anything different. I even forgot it was Columbus Day, because I was thinking about another holiday that falls on the exact same day.

What is it, you ask? Thanksgiving Day! Canada's Thanksgiving is always in October, the second Monday, just like the American Columbus Day. Upon further thought (late at night when sleep was elusive), it struck me that Columbus and Canada and Thanksgiving really are all tied together--at least in my mind.

History review

Christopher Columbus was a man with an adventurous spirit.

Being from Europe, he was interested in seeking a way to the East Indies by

travelling west across the Atlantic, rather than south around the tip of Africa. A bold notion in their day, when many believed the world was flat and that he would sail right off the end of the earth! He had the vision, but he didn't have the means to fulfill it on his own. So, being resourceful, the Italian presented his "mission" to the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Lo, and behold, they agreed to finance it, Columbus set sail with his famous three ships, hit land and is credited for discovering the American continent. And here we are today because Columbus followed up on his "crazy" idea. People walking on this American soil as descendants of the Europeans that followed after. A good reason to be personally thankful, right?

History preview?

We also have a couple of adventurous spirits. We're not trying to discover a new route somewhere (Jesus is the only Way there is to the Father), but we know there are many who don't know that, all around the world, and many, many of them are right here in North America, Canada especially and Edmonton in particular (more than 100,000 at the very least). We have been petitioning the King of kings with this mission, which He first put in our hearts, and we are seeking Him to raise up those who will join as senders to help us on our way. By His grace, a group of believers in Edmonton, Canada will be able to say, "And here we are today, walking with Jesus, because those of those two who dared to come here, where many people think it's irrelevant or unnecessary to do mission work". People walking in truth and the assurance of His salvation. A very good reason to be thankful, indeed.

So often, Paul the apostle wrote to the churches he either planted or had connection to, and some of the first words off the tip of his pen were "We give thanks to God always for you all" or something very similar, and his resulting joy at their faith in the Lord and belief in the Gospel when it came to them. (see Col. 1:3-8, 1 Thess. 1:3-10, 1 Cor. 1:4 and others).

More than discovering a new land or the "new world" of the 1400-1500's, people coming into God's kingdom every day, from any land, and every land on earth, is a major reason to have a Day of Thanksgiving. Not just for how God has blessed us, but how He desires to bless the world with His love and make us a blessing to them until the whole world hears of His offer of salvation. We're trusting Him to send us where He's called us, to Canada. Any other adventurous spirits out there?