  Spiritual
This week: Spiritual Alphabet: G is for Gratitude Edited by: SophyBells  
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. Thanksgiving will be celebrated next week in the US, so in this issue we'll talk about Gratitude, a valuable and universal spiritual practice no matter the time of year.
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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G is for Gratitude
If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.
Meister Eckhart
Joy is the simplest form of gratitude.
Karl Barth
Continuing our occasional series based on the Alphabet of Spiritual Literacy by Frederick and Mary Ann Brussat, we move to the spiritual practice of the letter G for Gratitude, which is described on the Spirituality and Practice web site as follows:
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. To learn the grammar of gratitude, practice saying "thank you" for happy and challenging experiences, for people, animals, things, art, memories, dreams. Count your blessings, and praise God. Utter blessings, and express your appreciation to everything and everyone you encounter. By blessing, we are blessed.
Gratitude can be one of the most difficult spiritual practices for many of us, especially if we are experiencing difficulties in life, personal, physical, or emotional pain, or any other challenge. When things are going great for us, it's easier to feel thankful for our blessings (though to be honest, we may not always express our gratitude when we get caught up in the euphoria of our good fortune). But what about when times are difficult and we are really struggling? Well those times can be the very ones we need to be most intentional about recognizing and expressing our gratitude.
Once many years ago as a teenager I attended a several-week summer camp (church related), and each morning before we started our program or activities, we were asked to share something for which we were grateful with the rest of our small group. At that time I was in quite a bit of pain and having difficulty walking, so it was hard for me to think of anything at the time to be grateful for -- all I could focus on was the pain and the fact that I was missing out on a lot of activities because of my physical condition. The first morning I muttered that I wasn't grateful about anything and the group leaders let it pass that one time, but told me that I had to share something the next morning because I ought to be able to find something to be grateful about even in the midst of my pain.
That made me angry, and I thought about arguing the point, armed with my indignation (and pain), but instead decided not to fight it and just make things up to share each morning. I didn't "mean" the things I said -- I just tried to think of things that would satisfy my group leaders and get them off my back. So the next day I said, "I'm grateful that everyone else walks faster than I do when we walk to our meeting room from the dining hall after breakfast, because everyone else gets way ahead of me, leaving me walking alone on the trail so that I was able to see a deer in the woods nearby that everyone else missed in their hurry."  A bit melodramatic and martyr-ish to be sure, but it satisfied my leaders.
Each day I'd try to find something else I could share the next day with the group -- it didn't matter what it was, it just had to be something I was thankful for -- so if the meal that evening didn't suck like camp food usually does, the next day I'd share, "I am grateful that dinner wasn't too bad last night." It got to be a game for me to try to find something, anything, each day that I could share with the group the next day to get the leaders off my back.
Much to my surprise, the exercise of having to come up with something to share with the group about which I was grateful, even if I was "making it up," actually helped cultivate an "attitude of gratitude" within myself during those difficult days. It was kind of like the "smile therapy" plot line from the show "Ally McBeal" a few years ago. One of the partners at the law firm where "Ally" worked was nicknamed the "Biscuit," and he was seeing a therapist who told him that if he practiced smiling, even fake smiling, it would help him feel happier. The story line was meant to be humorous, and it was, but in truth it actually worked. The more we make ourselves smile, or even laugh, the better our mood gets. It's the same with gratitude. The more we intentionally work to find things we are grateful for, the more we realize how many blessings we actually do have in our lives.
Spiritual Writing Exercises:
Here are a couple of suggestions for incorporating gratitude into your writing ...
In her book Simple Abundance, Sarah Ban Breathnach encourages her readers to keep a daily gratitude journal. In it she says that every day before you go to bed, write down five things that you can be grateful for that day. She describes this journal exercise as a transformative process: "As the months pass and you fill your journal with blessings, an inner shift in your reality will occur."
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Or perhaps you could write a story about an experience that at first seemed unpleasant, negative, or even traumatic, which in time you came to understand as a blessing.
Until next time, write on and be grateful! 
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Below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about Gratitude. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
| |  | Gratitude (E)
Its easy to overlook what has been right in front of us all the time.
#1504950 by Determined  |
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#1182150 by Not Available. |
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Now for a few comments from my last Spiritual Newsletter, "Spiritual Newsletter (October 20, 2010)" :
From Light 
Hi, Sophie. I wasn't expecting to find my essay "Disabilities and Souls" in an issue of the Spiritual Newsletter. It was written for a newsletter not on this site, where they published it. It's clearly New Age. It's intent is to inspire those with disabilities to realize there dreams. I'm happy you liked it. And, I hope I can inspire someone with it.
I'm glad you were pleased to find your essay -- I share items from a variety of spiritual paths, and was happy to share your insightful words.
     
From saheli
Thank you Sophy for such a valuable newsletter. It's true we have to listen to our inner voice "all aware" and move on to do something worthwhile which gives an inner grace and satisfaction. I am fascinated by the knowledge you possess and you share it with such simplicity. God's grace be always on you.
Thank you so much for your kind words, and for sharing your thoughts.
From embe
Taking the plunge - by embe - to share with you.
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Appreciation your newsletter.
Thanks so much, glad you enjoyed it!
From peach
Wow, Sophyween. Your previous newletter about comfort zones had quite a response. Thank you.
Yes it certainly did!
From Joy 
Superb editorial, Sophy. Deep and intense without being pushy, and I love Thomas Moore (the one who is the present-day author-lecturer).
Thanks!
You are most welcome, glad you liked it.
From Lunarmirror
Where does this tale of Mahud comes from? Is it Arabic?
I found this story in the book A Life at Work: The Joy of Discovering What You Were Born to Do by Thomas Moore. I am not sure where he found it.
From sarahreed
I have often prayed for guidance with my writing and I have gotten responses, often leading me in directions I was not expecting to go. The Divine works in very mysterious ways and I've found is not bound by our preconceived notions or what should or shouldn't be. I know I still have a long way to go on my path, but I know that if I remain open, I'll find my way. It's when I'm closed off that I get lost and become deaf to my calling.
Exactly! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated!
SophyBells |
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Spiritual: November 16, 2010 Issue [#4046]
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