Thanksgiving 2010 Reflection
Brother David Steindl-Rast (born July 12, 1926, Vienna) is an Austrian-American Roman Catholic theologian, notable for his active participation in interfaith dialogue, and his work on the interaction between spirituality and science. Among his many inspirational writings are Gratefulness, The Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness and Music of Silence: A Sacred Journey through the Hours of the Day. This is what he says about gratefulness:
Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy—because we will always want to have something else or something more.
Gratefulness brings joy to my life. How could I find joy in what I take for granted? So I stop “taking for granted,” and there is no end to the surprises I find. A grateful attitude is a creative one, because, in the final analysis, opportunity is the gift within the gift of every moment—the opportunity to see and hear and smell and touch and taste with pleasure.
There is no closer bond than the one that gratefulness celebrates, the bond between giver and thanksgiver. Everything is a gift. Grateful livng is the celebration of the universal give-and-take of life, a limitless YES! to belonging.
Can our world survive without gratefulness? Whatever the answer, one thing is certain: to say an unconditional YES! to the mutual belonging of all beings will make this a more joyful world. This is the reason why YES! is my favorite synonym for God.
*Note: Capitalization and exclamation point of the word, yes, are mine.
Enjoy your day!
#1 from .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on November 25, 2010
YES!