Dear Friends,
As I was preparing myself for Thanksgiving and Advent, I wondered what I could write about for this week’s reflection. As I scrolled through some of my Facebook memories, I came across a quote from Thich Nhat Hanh. It is rather lengthy, but these few lines really struck me:
“The blue sky, the white clouds, the gentle breezes, the delightful rains, political stability, free speech, good schools for children, beautiful flowers, and good health... These are the positive ingredients of peace and happiness that exist alongside the negative ingredients. But if, day after day, we are only in contact with our anxieties and our anger about what is ugly and corrupt, we will lose our joy and our ability to serve others.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh from Transformation and Healing.
Somehow, it seems to me that “we are only in contact with our anxieties and our anger about what is ugly and corrupt…” How are you preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving? Are you concerned about what has happened over the past year, the parts that have been challenging for you, or how you have been blessed? I have a former student who reminds her students that they don’t have to do something; they get to do something, no matter what it is. It’s the positive attitude that helps us keep our joy and ability to serve others. You get to wake up each morning, you get to go to class or work, or visit a friend in need. We need to remember to give thanks and praise God for all that is good in our lives. Once we “lose our joy,” we are unable to serve and be for others.
Each of us has much to be thankful for this year. Perhaps we need to dig a little deeper to find our gratitude. Can we take the time to create a litany of things we are grateful for? What are the positive things that have happened to us and for us during these past months? I can offer many examples, but each of us needs to search our souls and create that litany. It may be different than years past, but it will be honest and holy. The gift is that they may all be simple things. Like the old Shaker song goes, “Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free, ‘tis the gift to come down to where we ought to be. And when we find ourselves in the place just right, ‘twill be in the valley of love and delight.”
So, during this coming week, create a list of the simple blessings of your life. Recapture the joy that enables you to continue to be of service to others. Once you start your list, you’ll be surprised by how much you have to be grateful for.
Till next week,
Sister Theresita
