 Spiritual: November 21, 2007 Issue [#2072] |
  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: SophyBells  
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. This week we'll talk about gratitude, in honor of the Thanksgiving holiday being celebrated in the US this week.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred. 
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An Attitude of Gratitude
French Proverb: "Gratitude is the heart's memory."
Brother David Steindl-Rast: "Gratefulness is not a feeling – it is an attitude."
Frederick and Mary Ann Brussat: "The spiritual practice of gratitude has been called a state of mind and a way of life. But we prefer to think of it as a grammar — an underlying structure that helps us construct and make sense out of our lives. The rules of this grammar cover all our activities. Its syntax reveals a system of relationships linking us to the divine and to every other part of the creation."
The Thanksgiving holiday is being celebrated in the United States this week (Thursday, Nov. 23), which of course is the foundation for my comments this week. The US is certainly not alone in observing a national day of thanks. Other countries that have national Thanksgiving holidays at various times of the year include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Liberia, and Switzerland. And whether or not your country of origin or residence has a national day set aside to express thanks, we all know what a significant and vital discipline gratitude is for our own spiritual journeys.
Just over 10 years ago I was working at a regional out-patient cancer center. The patients I encountered there amazed me on a daily basis, not only by their courage in the face of such adversity, but also by the blessings and gifts they showered upon me. I was supposed to be there to serve them, but I was regularly served by them, and it truly was a sacred experience in every sense of the word. I remember one patient in particular -- she was my age, a mother of three, dying of metastatic breast cancer. She'd been through several surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, and finally a bone marrow transplant far away from home. But in the end nothing could stop the cancer coursing through her body. And remarkably to me, nothing could stop her positive, joyful attitude about life, love, and even death.
Toward the end her life, which coincided with the end of my time at the cancer center, she was coming in daily for radiation treatments to help ease the pain of the cancer that had spread to her bones. During my last weeks at that job, I visited with her each day in the waiting area, and in spite of her pain and the knowledge that her life would be ending soon, she always had a smile for me as she squeezed my hand and asked how I was doing. She also shared with me her deep gratitude for the wonderful family she had been blessed with, even if only for a short time, and for her amazing doctors and caregivers who fought so hard to save her life. Had our situations been reversed, I would expect to have been angry and raging at the universe for my situation. But she was able to take things as they came, a day at a time, and be grateful for whatever blessings, great or small, that came her way.
On my last day there she had a gift for me -- it was wrapped in bright pink paper, and she asked me not to open it until I got home that day, the last time we would see each other. Inside was a copy of the book:
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And in the front cover she had written: "Remember that there is always something to be thankful for, even in my condition. One of the many things I am grateful for is meeting you, something that would not have happened otherwise. You have been a blessing from God in my life, and I am thankful for the time we have shared on this journey. Good luck on your new adventure! Love, Nicki." I cried when I read that, out of grief for the loss of such a wonderful spark of life that the universe was about to lose, and out of joy for the amazing attitude she was able to maintain in the face of such pain and adversity. And from that day forward, I was also grateful for the gifts and lessons Nicki taught me about being thankful, in addition to the wonderful little book she gave me.
The spiritual practice of gratitude has been referred to by some as both a state of mind and a way of life. Nicki best exemplified that for me. Quoting David Steindl-Rast again, "Gratefulness is the inner gesture of giving meaning to our life by receiving life as a gift." Gratitude is something more than momentary appreciation then -- rather it is a cultivated ability. It may begin with something as simple as surprise or delight at the sight of a rainbow perhaps, or at a gesture of unexpected kindness from a stranger. All of these possibilities kindle awareness that our well being is made possible by others, and it is this realization that opens the door to the peaceful joy of gratitude, even in the face of seemingly unsurmountable obstacles like those Nicki faced. It moves in circles as the giver of kindness becomes the receiver of thanks, and it brings ones life into balance and focus and contentment, commodities which we could all use more of!
So in the spirit of gratitude and giving thanks, I'd like to challenge you to cultivate a sense of your own gratitude, and express it toward someone who has contributed to your well being, whether in the recent present or in your distant past. Using your skills as a writer, write them a letter or story or poem of appreciation and thanks for the gifts they have shared with you. And then if possible, share your thanks with that person by sending them a copy of what you write. Or, if that is not possible for whatever variety of reasons, post your writing here on the site to share with others.
I don't know about the rest of you, but stories of gratitude told by other people encourage me. Stories of being surprised by goodness and finding previously hidden reasons to be grateful enhance my own ability at gratitude. Perhaps we can motivate others in some way by sharing our stories, and remind us of how much we really do have to be grateful for.
"If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is "thank you," it will be enough." Meister Eckhart
That's all for this issue. Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in the U.S.! SophyBells
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Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about gratitude and thanksgiving, either related to the holiday itself, or in general.
Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
A great little writing exercise about gratitude:
Stories/essays:
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Here is a response to my last newsletter about visions and mysticism! Hope to hear from more of you next time! And don't forget to pass on subject ideas for future newsletters. 
From Katya the Poet 
Very nice! I love how everything comes together in this essay--the book, the reflection, the info. And thanks for including my poem.
Thanks for the comment, and thank you for such a wonderful poem to include!
    
From weeowl flying free! 
I love this article! Everyday is a gift and when you see the subtleties that are miracles...they are everywhere! Just waiting to be acknowledged! Weeowl
Glad you liked it, thank you for sharing!
From Renee Maciag
Enjoyed your article on mysticism & visions. Thanks for the inspiration.
Kindest regards,
sagiscar
Glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for letting me know.
From Nylsaj Nomis
I enjoyed reading the Spiritual Newsletter especially the Letter from the editor entitled Visioning and Spiritual Mysticism.
On the topic of wisdom, I have chosen the biblical version, quoting the the bible of course which states that the fear (respect/reverence) of God is the beginning of Wisdom. This is a wisdom which can transcend all others. The author of the Book of Proverb, wise king Solomon reached it and celebrated the experience when he wrote the following:
Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
for blessed are they who keep my ways.
Heed instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at my doorposts.
For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the Lord.
But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death. (Prov. 8: 32–36)
This quote was taken from the following URL
http://www.biblicalwisdom.org/uploads/Convert1.pdf
Thanks
Nylsaj Nomis.
Thank you for sharing these words with me, and for your comments. I'm glad you liked the article.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! SophyBells
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