Inviting Gratitude
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A Meditation
“The root of joy is gratefulness.
It is not joy that makes us grateful—
It is gratitude that makes us joyful.
Eyes see only light, ears hear only sound, but a listening heart perceives meaning. Everything is a gift. Grateful living is a celebration of the universal give-and-take of life, a limitless yes to belonging. A lifetime may not be long enough to attune ourselves fully to the harmony of the universe. But just to become aware that we can resonate with it — that alone can be like waking up from a dream.”
~~~
In the yesteryear, when I would hear “gratitude” proposed as a topic in one of my 12 Step meetings, I would shudder a bit.
“Oh, not that again,” I would think, and have enough sense, hopefully, to not say aloud.
My spiritual evolution, you see, had eclipsed the simple, the elementary of a mere gratitude practice.
OH, dear Aruni, what arrogance.
I am oh, so slowly beginning to appreciate the maturity and profundity of gratitude as a practice, as an entryway into a connected, joy-filled living.
~~~
In this realm, for this week’s blog, I have two offerings.
The first, here is Brother David, beloved 96-year-old Benedictine monk, author and founder of The Network for Grateful Living.
This is called A Grateful Day. Enjoy, dear friends.
~~~
And secondly, here I am, offering us Inviting Gratitude, a Meditation.
Please use this as a practice. Imagine sitting with it, sitting with me, on a consistent basis, while we together lean into our “listening hearts”.
~~~
Dear Friends,
The blessings are bountiful,
No matter what is happening.
The gifts are everywhere,
No matter how waylaid
Our minds
Become.
Give us the courage
And the strength
To open
Into
Our
Listening
Hearts.
With gratitude,
For you—
Exactly as
You are.
From Aruni,
Me,
Exactly
As I
Am.