Back in my church-work days, I went to a conference and heard Brian McClaren speak about something, but what really caught my ear was when he said: what if someone promised you that you would hear the voice of God in church this year, what would you do? Well, you’d show up and listen. You’d be there, week after week, expectantly listening. I’d venture to guess that you’d hear a divine message at least once, and that’s simply because you arrived ready to pay attention.
Part of gratitude, of seeing the things that are good, is the fundamental belief that the good things exist. And they exist for you.
Prior to my yoga life, thankfulness was simply something we did before the turkey was served, or the polite way of receiving a gift. Sometimes it was used to make me a little less bratty when I wanted more of something… be grateful for what you have.
As I’ve grown into my yoga practice, understanding that the real work is the noticing, I see how gratitude is the natural outflow. If we’re really paying attention, really noticing the divine magic hidden all around us and within us, gratitude becomes a bit easier. As we keep going, it even becomes more automatic. How can we help but feel anything but grateful when we experience a beautiful world full of gifts.
There’s a particular prayer that the Jewish people pray daily called the Shema (found in the Biblical book of Deuteronomy), a promise to love God and talk about God wherever they go. It’s followed by three verses: When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
I love this description: cities, houses, wells, vineyards that all exist and these people didn’t do a thing to earn them. Gifts for a flourishing life. I’ve been using these words to guide my gratitude every time I experience an unearned grace: trees I did not plant, turning gorgeous colors; music I hear but did not create; books and poetry I read that I did not write. Yet here I am, enjoying these gifts.
Unearned. For me.
I hope you’ll join us sometime this month to continue to practice our gratitude toward this big, beautiful, wonderful universe.
Show up. Work hard. Shine bright. Love all.
Give thanks.
Gratitude Challenge
