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Wisdom Quote
"Every occasion for gratefulness is in some way a recognition that we belong to the world and to our fellow beings, that we exist in the community. Practicing gratitude can restore us to our rightful place in the world."
*Alan Jones and John O’Neil. Seasons of Grace.
Wisdom Story
Two travelers, worn out by the heat of the summer sun, laid themselves down at noon under the widely spread branches of a Plane Tree. As they rested under its shade, one of the Travelers said to the other, "What a singularly useless tree is the Plane! It bears no fruit, and is not of the least service to man." The Plane Tree, interrupting him, said, "You ungrateful fellows! Do you, while receiving benefits from me and resting under my shade, dare to describe me as useless, and unprofitable?”
*Aesop’s Fables.
Contemplative Musings
There are only two types of persons in the world ~ ungrateful and grateful. Each of these persons chooses to be grateful or ungrateful. The events of life may influence the choice, but the events of life do not determine the choice.
To say I am blessed does not mean, either, that I truly feel blessed, that I have an inward, emotional recognition of blessing. God wills for gratitude to touch us not only in mind but also in feeling. God wills for us to feel grateful, to feel blessed.
By practicing the speaking of gratitude, I can open myself more to that feeling. I can become, in time, a grateful person. To be a grateful person means that gratitude is not only something I do; rather, my being has been transformed into Gratitude.
Simply put, words are energy. What I speak shapes my heart, or my consciousness. I cannot blame my consciousness on God, the environment, or anyone else. I, through Grace, form the inward lens of feeling and perception through my response to the circumstances of my life.
The moment I say “Thank You,” verbally or nonverbally, I am moving in a positive direction. The very words “Thank You” carry the energy of thankfulness. I can speak them, even when I do not feel like speaking them. Then, I am one step closer to gratitude. I am acting out of and connecting with, and sharing, the inspiration of the underlying Life of my life. I am connecting with God. I am responding faithfully to the Divine blessing in and on my life and being, including my place in the world.
My biography is not my true Life. I can try to live in the past or the future. If I live in the past, I am likely living in regret. In regret I cannot be thankful now ~ the two are inconsistent. The moment I am grateful now, then, I can no longer am living in regret about the past. The Spirit of Gratitude has come to the fore, and that Spirit of Gratitude is the Fount of Life. If I live in the future, I am likely living in anticipation of a better something. In such anticipation I cannot be thankful now ~ the two are contradictory. If I take my mind from the future into the moment, then, I have the opportunity to see the blessings of this present time. In such presence I share with others the Spirit of Gratitude. Now and here is the only time and place I can receive and express the joy of blessing.
This gratitude pertains to the life we offer others. Often, persons live with a sense that they have not been good enough or done well enough. They regret this sense of incompleteness. They have a cloud of pervasive dissatisfaction with themselves. While others may see them as worthy and useful, as a blessing with special talents and ways, these persons inner messages say otherwise, and nothing they do seems able to convert that inner self-criticism. And this inner self-criticism, while appearing humble, is really selfish and unloving, too, for it is self-absorptive ~ the opposite of love. Often, these persons project their inner dissatisfaction onto others, finding that few persons or no one can live up to their expectations. Simply put, I cannot enjoy healthy communion with others unless I deal prayerfully with my own need to know and feel that who I am and what I offer is worthy and useful. I must come to the point of knowing and feeling grateful for whom God makes me to be and what God graces me to do.
Therefore, gratitude is not only for the offerings of God to us, or the blessings of others upon us. We need to practice a humble and celebratory gratitude in regard to our own offerings. Take notice of the small gifts that your presence and action gives to others. Be grateful for that, and do not focus on what you think you should give or would give. For a moment, rest and look at the offering of your gifts. You are likely to find that you are a more grateful person, not for a false humility that esteems humbleness the ignoring of your worth and usefulness, but a true humility in which you recognize and are grateful for the gift of your presence in the world.
And, ultimately, this worth and usefulness derive from your being from and in God. We receive worth and usefulness from God. Your gratitude for yourself is, then, to the glory of God.
Suggested Exercise
Do at least one of the following…
Give gratitude today for ways you are a blessing through who you are and what you do for others. Be specific.
Request a friend or family member to speak to you of the ways you are a blessing to others. Then, leave and go to a quiet place. Give thanks to God for these matters pointed out to you.
Brian is available to respond to requests pertaining to seeking a Spiritual Director, his speaking, doing classes, workshops, or retreats for churches or other spiritual groups.
For submission of replies, see below:
*Brian K. Wilcox lives with his wife, Rocio, and their two dogs, St. Francis and Bandit Ty, in Clearwater and Punta Gorda, Florida. He is a United Methodist pastor and vowed member of Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in Georgia. His passion is living a contemplative life and inspiring others to experience a deeper relationship with Christ through contemplative prayer and living.
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