November 23, 2006

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  In mulling over today’s “thankful” holiday theme, I came across this
  piece by Brother David Steindl-Rast;
  a monastic and companion of Thomas Merton ,
  on the Gratefulness.org web page.

  
  

  It seems especially apropos in a world where, though we celebrate “Thanksgiving”,
  many seem not grateful, thankful or giving.

  
  

   

  
  

  “… there is good news: Yes, it is indeed possible to teach and learn gratefulness. A good starting point is surprise.
  We can cultivate surprise at waking up to another day, surprise at whatever the weather happens to be that day,
  surprise that there is anything rather than nothing! How come?
                                  And how come we don’t think to ask “how come” more often?

  
  

  Children have a natural ability to marvel. They are little philosophers in this respect, for, as Plato said,
  all philosophizing starts with wonderment. It is easy to encourage children to look at the world with amazed eyes.
  For teaching and learning gratefulness, a magnifying glass can be an invaluable tool.
  Another teaching aide is a simple soap bubble blower, which contains several thousand incentives for wonderment.

  
  

  Of course, in order to be taught, it is necessary to want to learn. But who would not want to learn, once they see
  that the smallest act of gratefulness triggers immediate feedback.
                             Gratefulness unlocks joy.
                                                          Nothing that we take for granted gives us joy.
  Yet the smallest surprise, received gratefully, yields a harvest of delight. As a teacher, you can look for moments of wonder,
  multiply moments of wonder, to share with your students — children or adults — so that even the crustiest and most
  hardened among them suddenly catches on to the fact that whatever there is, is pure gift.

  
  

  In Daniel 12:3, we read, “Those who show many the way to life will shine forever like the stars in the firmament.”
  What better way to a fuller life than teaching gratitude? I can just see the eyes of children light up like stars as gratitude
  takes hold of their hearts. And to think that this multitude of stars will sparkle forever!”

  
  

  May each of you be blessed with surprise, wonder , appreciation of God’s gifts; great and small,
  and filled with thankfulness and gratefulness;
  not only today, but every day.

  
  

  Blessings…Jim

  
  

   

  • 9:42 pm
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