Gratitude

When we have been unjustly hurt, our reaction might understandably be anger and resentment, and we might be motivated to retaliate. Let’s say we experience a great loss because of someone else’s actions against us – a life-changing and devastating loss. How do we get beyond vengeance against the one who caused the loss and move towards gratitude for what we had that was lost?  It’s a hard change of heart and mind: being thankful that we had the lost thing at all – a person, a job, a prized possession – for however long, rather than resentful for having been deprived of it. Gratitude can be a powerful avenue through the trauma of loss. It does not minimize the intense pain that always accompany the work of rebuilding one’s life in an entirely different context, but it can take away the feeling of anger and the conviction that a terrible injustice has been done, and it opens the way for thanksgiving and renewed trust in the world.

Trinity Sunday

Last Sunday was Trinity Sunday for Christian traditions who believe in a Trinitarian God. It is a complicated theological concept – and many scholars have tried to make logical sense of three Gods in one: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I find that metaphors help.

One sermon I heard used the images of the lover (God), the beloved (His Son, in whom He is well pleased), and the spirit of love that engulfs them and imbues all of us (the Holy Spirit). I have also heard of the metaphor of the dance to help us understand. God is the creator of the dance; his Son is embodying the dance, and the Holy Spirit is providing the music that make a harmonious dance possible. Both metaphors make clear that the concept of the Trinity is a relational one. We all strive to live in loving, harmonious relationship to our God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – and to one another.

Pentecost

Last Sunday was Pentecost, the visitation of the Holy Spirit upon the twelve and by extension to us. The gift of the Holy Spirit is a profound gift, infusing us with the strength to do God’s will : help the poor, say our prayers, spread the gospel.  

 The metaphors around the Pentecost are tongues of fire, streams of water, streams of breath: all elements of the natural worlds help us understand the power of the experience. If it is a river, let it flow. If it is a wind, let it blow. If it is a fire, let it burn. In all cases, let it do it service in the spirit of God’s love.

Hiking

I have been lucky to live in places where great hikes are readily accessible. I am also lucky to have a dog who likes the hikes as much as I do. There is, of course, the beauty of the external landscape – trees whispering in the wind, streams babbling along the path, wildflowers donning their colors, and birds chirping overhead. There is also the meditative effect of putting one foot in front of the other, as one’s internal landscape begins to echo the beauty of the external surroundings. And then, there is the easy discourse with hikers whom you pass, fellow travelers along the path. Being in nature seems to promote a gentle courtesy, a shared appreciation of the space, inviting us to tread lightly and to be respectful of one another. My dog reminds me that there are other critters along the way, as she scampers after squirrels and bunnies. The full tableau is a gift that inspires gratitude.