“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
~ Meister Eckhart
Gratitude is the doorway to peace and well-being. What gratitude does for us is open our minds and hearts to life beyond us. Back in July I wrote a blog about the two astronauts who had an extended stay in space. A quote from Suni Williams, one of the astronauts, has stayed with me. When Suni and Butch Wilmore returned to earth and were interviewed, Suni said this, “We revolve around the earth, the earth does not revolve around us.” Exactly.
That’s what gratitude does for us; it reminds us that all of life is a gift. It’s not just about “me,” it’s about “us.”
We know the story of whether the glass is half empty or half full. But life is not an either/or. Life is a both/and. Life is dynamic, not static. Some days the glass overflows and some days it dips pretty low. Still, there is always something for which to be grateful.
If we continually reflect on all we don’t have or want or need, we lose sight of what we do have. I have often been impressed with people with little or no means. People you often meet at a food pantry or a shelter. So many of them are grateful for a place to sleep, a place to gather food. Yes, I know there are cantankerous people at shelters and folks who try to bilk the food pantry, but that is the minority. I think the more we have, the more we think we need. “More wants more.” Never satisfied. Isn’t that what marketing is all about, telling us what we “must have?”
I think the “never satisfied” syndrome belies a lack of awareness of a larger picture about how a significant segment of our population lives. It is easy to get isolated from people who have less than we do. If we do not have the opportunity to interact with people who have less than we, we may not understand their situation. I was talking to two different young men this past week. Both work fulltime without many benefits. Their pay is such they have to really scramble to stay afloat. They don’t have the luxury of a “rainy day” fund. I also often think of people who work fulltime but do not receive sick days, which is why you see many people going to work sick. The several different jobs I have had throughout my working years always included sick days, personal leave, and vacation. Much to be grateful for.
Economists are expressing concern regarding the ever-widening gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population. I see the gaps between the poor, the working poor, the middle class, the wealthy, and extremely wealthy. A wide swath.
How I personally grapple with this imbalance varies. First, I look at my own personal life. For starters I think we are all dealing with “sticker shock” when we go to the grocery store. I am certainly looking at prices more carefully, choosing to select one item that is less expensive than another, choosing a different brand than I would ordinarily choose. Being more conscious of spending money in general. I am getting more adept at finding my lunch in whatever assortment of leftovers my fridge offers rather than buying lunch out.
For me personally, I find it valuable to make some choices, not all, in the context of “solidarity.” What I mean by that is even if I can afford some particular item whether it be food, clothes, household furnishings, or many other ways we spend money, I monitor it simply out of awareness that many people cannot afford that. It doesn’t change the reality of the person with less, but it makes me more aware that others have much less than I do. It’s an effort to live life just a bit more simply. To avoid getting snagged into thinking more is better. I think less is better.
For the last approximately 45 days, churches, non-profits, food pantries have been begging for donations due to the uncertainty of SNAP funding as well as the hundreds of people who have been furloughed during the government shutdown. As the government appears to be re-opening, it is going to take weeks, maybe months, for many people and small businesses to recover from the shutdown.
Surely, we can contribute to these requests at some level.*
As I close, I would like to switch gears and shout out a deep expression of gratitude for the estimated 5 to 7 million people (which is basically 1 in 50 Americans) who gathered in all 50 states, many braving rain and chilly weather, to participate in a very peaceful “No Kings” rally on Saturday, October 18th. Their awareness and their willingness to speak out with their presence is a sign of hope. We are deeply grateful. And encouraged.
Enjoy your half-full or brimming-over glass of water, wine, or whatever your favorite beverage might be this Thanksgiving. And offer a word of “thanks.”
“The three most powerful tools for a happy life are gratitude, forgiveness and love. If you can appreciate the small things, forgive those who wrong you and fill your heart with love, you will always be content.”
~ The Secret of the Irish Castle (p. 416)
Gratefully,
Bridget
*Giving Thanks through the Giving Season
There are many ways to give thanks both spiritually and practically. If you are inclined to donate or volunteer, food banks, pantries, fresh meals and other services can be found throughout neighborhoods in your metropolitan area. If you are unfamiliar with support programs for those facing food insecurity and homelessness in your community, simply search: “food help [your location]”, or start with the list below. Many organizations accept online donations.
FoodPantries.org can help you find food pantries in your community. Select your state and choose your location for a list of neighborhood food pantries with descriptions and links to their websites.
https://www.foodpantries.org/
Feeding America is a national network that can connect you with a food bank partner in your area. Type in your ZIP code to find your local food bank.
https://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank
The Salvation Army provides numerous support services for local communities. Use your ZIP code to find how you can contribute in your community.
https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/
Toys for Tots provides gifts and support for disadvantaged children. From their website, select “Find a Local Chapter” to learn how you can help.
https://www.toysfortots.org/
Thank you.
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