Thursday, June 3
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Giving Thanks
“What a blessing to live in the reality of God’s love and beauty, and whose Spirit is amongst us." Dianne Collery, Sunday Sermon 30 May, Drawn into the Dance
We have so much to be thankful for. As Dianne says we are part of a world of creation lovingly made, sustained, and redeemed by the triune God. Giving thanks, Norman Wirzba says in his book, From Nature to Creation, is the most fundamental and honest expression of what it means to be a human being, because it is here in the thanksgiving act, that people appreciate and attempt to live into the knowledge that life is a gift.
This past week while camping I had amble time to give thanks each day for the many simple blessings of God’s love and beauty that surrounded me - a fuchsia winged moth, the perfume of a wild rose, a rabbit looking at me from behind a bush, throwing a ball with my dog, sitting on a log watching the sunset, bumble bees collecting pollen, broom bushes lighting up the landscape with ablaze of yellow, sheep munching grass, birds singing, leaves rustling in the breeze, sun sparkling on the water. These are just some of the blessings for which I daily gave thanks.
God teaches us through creation how to give thanks. For example, my dog teaches me the simple blessings of a ball, of slowing down to sniff the grass and flowers, of the joy of a scratch behind the ear.
Humans are not alone in God’s creation. In her children’s book Wild Ideas , Eline Kelsey, shows how nature can inspire our thinking, to name a few: chimpanzees fold leaves to drink water, crows use sticks to reach food, squirrels learn to cross the street by watching us, bears can count, humpback whales make bubble nets, dung beetles steer by the stars, killer whales rely on their mother’s wisdom, baboons get guidance from their dads.
What a world God created, what a gift of joy and beauty. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Six Gestures of Morning Praise, by Joyce Rupp
Each morning when I arise, I begin the day with these six gestures. I join spirit and body in praising the Holy One and offering my thanks for life. As I make the gestures, I say a one-line prayer and then remain in that posture for a brief time.
1. Offering the Creator praise and gratitude:
Stretch your arms high and wide above your head.
“I thank you, Holy One, for the gift of another day of life.”
2. Intentionally being aware of my spiritual bond with all of creation
Hold arms out from your sides, a little below shoulder height. Move (pivot) to the left and to the right with your arms stretching outward toward the cosmos.
“I reach out in compassion to my sisters and brothers throughout the universe.”
3. Offering my life to the Holy One
Stretch your arms out straight in front of you, slightly apart, palms up.
“I give to you all I am and all I have.”
4. Opening to accept what the Holy One offers me this day
Pull your hands close together and cup them as a container.
“I open my entire being to receive the gift that you have waiting for me in this new day.”
5. Remembering to be kind to our planet Earth
Bend over, reach down, and touch the floor, or better yet, the ground, if you are outside.
“I touch this planet, Earth, with awe, reverence, and gratitude, promising to care well for her today.”
6. Awareness of the indwelling presence of the Holy One
Stand up, cross hands over your heart, and bow to the waist.
“May I be united with you throughout this day, aware of your love strengthening me and shining through me.”