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Gratefulness
Today I am grateful to be alive, to feel, see and know the grace and power of something we call Spirit. That alone is joy and gift enough!
I am not interested in passing along whatever wisdom I might have to the world as my legacy. I’m finding plenty of ways to use what amounts to wisdom day by day. Instead, perhaps I’ll leave behind a note saying, “Sorry that I wasn’t able to stay longer.” – Kevin
As adults, we marvel at how babies unabashedly express any number of emotions in response to their surroundings without hesitation. Regarding joy, I wonder how it would feel, and be received, if I allowed myself to do the same thing, without applying the filter of pre-thinking much of the time? I am aware that I do express joy spontaneously in certain settings and less so in other situations. For better or worse, I suggest it’s a consequence of being an adult.
I desire and have achieved a comfortable level of peace in my personal life. I wish that I could deliver the same for the world in which we live.
Beyond desire, I am aware of an inner longing, that never seems to be quite satisfied, to be a conduit of purpose and comfort to others who might view my photography or read what I’ve written and occasionally be lifted anew. This is happening in small and gentle ways already for which I am grateful. Yet still, the awareness of longing rema...
Beyond desire, I am aware of an inner longing, that never seems to be quite satisfied, to be a conduit of purpose and comfort to others who might view my photography or read what I’ve written and occasionally be lifted anew. This is happening in small and gentle ways already for which I am grateful. Yet still, the awareness of longing remains and I wonder just what that all means.
Of course my wife would be first in line, as she knows me well, inside and out and supports me 100% and is thoroughly honest with me, even when I don’t enjoy hearing it! The rest of my family, who are all nearby, which is a wonderful gift, just completes me as a dad, grandfather and overall person. After that, come people from within my faith community, and of course the merry band of people I row with three times a week! I am blessed. – Kevin
Such a fabulous and unique story. Amazing. Thank you.
Great story, Kay. Thanks for sharing it!
Beautiful story, Nicos, thank you!
And as I am observing in my wife, the gift and rhythm of mothering love moves right on into grandparent-hood, too. It’s a beautiful sight to behold.
Thanks for your story.
Some of us have already enjoyed the trial launch of the Gratefulness Lounge. And I for one am delighted that images can now be shared in this new resource! Thank you, Gratefulness.org, now let the “gifting” of gratitude shared begin!
Mesmerizing and relaxing! Thank you very much for your work!
Wonderful article, Kristi. Thank you. One of our grandsons, named after me, was doing a project for school recently. Kevin asked, “Grampa, do you know who Martin Luther King was?” I proudly responded that indeed I do and that I was a teenager when King was marching on Washington. I could feel the wheels turning in Kevin’s head when he said, “Wow…you are really old then, huh?”
I thought about the 80 and 90 year-olds that I know and replied, “N...
I thought about the 80 and 90 year-olds that I know and replied, “Not yet!”
Thanks, Michael. I have some of O’Donohue’s work, but not that one. I’ve ordered a copy, thanks to you, and it will arrive on Monday!
Greetings Ursula, thank you for your kind and encouraging words. There are times when I also realize that my better work and most fulfilling connections among others happens within the longing itself. And that too is a lesson that both instructs and makes me smile at the same time! Again, thank you.
This is so true. Your note makes me think about the macro and micro ways of being present to trees, and they to us as well. Sometimes I feel a sense of blessing just looking at the sweeping panorama of an entire tree from afar and watch it swaying and chatting with the breezes. Other times I find myself sitting close to a tree, perhaps on a stone wall or on the ground, just looking into a small area of a tree’s bark and branches, being aware of the textures, colors and physical certainty of...
This is so true. Your note makes me think about the macro and micro ways of being present to trees, and they to us as well. Sometimes I feel a sense of blessing just looking at the sweeping panorama of an entire tree from afar and watch it swaying and chatting with the breezes. Other times I find myself sitting close to a tree, perhaps on a stone wall or on the ground, just looking into a small area of a tree’s bark and branches, being aware of the textures, colors and physical certainty of this living wonder. It’s always hard to explain, but I come away knowing and feeling within, lighter and fortified. – Kevin
Hello Anna, I hear you that so much of our towns and especially cities are filled with man-made structures and creations, all of which are supposed to serve us as people. Yet I also recall fondly several times over the years when I was leading groups of young people on retreat in urban areas and our group was naturally drawn to be near, sit beneath or climb above (whenever possible) the scraggiest of trees, they, having been wedged between concrete structures, and yet they survived.
My sense too is that trees are given to us to enjoy in many ways, but never to own as in a gift received to do with as one pleases. You make an important distinction on that point, which I agree with totally, but I suppose there are some who would think otherwise.
Thank you for mentioning and invoking the name of Saint Francis of Assisi also. My little statue of him is in our backyard, also under a small ornamental tree. Unfortunately, the poor little guy toppled over in our last snowstorm and is temporarily frozen under snow and ice! I am not really sure what that means other than issuing an apology to my Catholic friends. But I’m waiting for the first thaw so that I can get Saint Francis upright again. Perhaps there’s another story in that, too. My very best to you. – Kevin Lee
The pleasure has been all mine, actually! I have taken the Level One Miksang course, and waiting for the next level to be offered somewhere in the eastern part of the US. Over the years when I’ve taught First Day School at my Quaker Meeting or when leading a retreat for young Quakers, and when the weather allowed, I especially enjoyed taking the whole group outside under a nearby tree. The energy from the tree always made the class go so much better! For sure, these trees are taking car...
The pleasure has been all mine, actually! I have taken the Level One Miksang course, and waiting for the next level to be offered somewhere in the eastern part of the US. Over the years when I’ve taught First Day School at my Quaker Meeting or when leading a retreat for young Quakers, and when the weather allowed, I especially enjoyed taking the whole group outside under a nearby tree. The energy from the tree always made the class go so much better! For sure, these trees are taking care of us in so many ways!
Greetings, there truly is something majestic yet understated about towering pine trees! And now you’re giving back to them, in spades, as an educator and a preservationist as a planter of trees! I love the idea that we can plant trees knowing that they will, hopefully, outlive us all. _ Kevin
Greetings Treetalker, I love your piece! The biggest thing that falls from trees in my area are acorns from oak trees. So not too risky. Although I once was riding my bike down a rural stretch of road through a stand of big old oak trees. Suddenly the wind picked up and it was literally raining acorns….so much so that they were bouncing off of my bike helmet and making a racket! My best to you with the harvesting!
Hello friend, I am sorry to hear that things have been rough lately for you…hopefully better times will come soon, perhaps as the season will too. The good news is that your palm tree in your garden will be there when you’re ready. But perhaps some of us who have read this story and check in with this site will reach over to their/our “spirit tree,” wherever they are, and send you a little prayer of comfort and healing as well. We never know how the roots of things connect, no matter...
Hello friend, I am sorry to hear that things have been rough lately for you…hopefully better times will come soon, perhaps as the season will too. The good news is that your palm tree in your garden will be there when you’re ready. But perhaps some of us who have read this story and check in with this site will reach over to their/our “spirit tree,” wherever they are, and send you a little prayer of comfort and healing as well. We never know how the roots of things connect, no matter how far apart. Once daylight arrives, I’ll have a talk with one of favorite trees on your behalf. Keep listening, and do take care. –Kevin Lee
Thank you, Cintia. I live in New England, and in another month the trees will start to have little tight buds just emerging. sometimes you have to look close to see them, but by the first warmer day In March they’ll be hints of green on the higher branches, a sure sign of right order in the world…at least in the world of nature! – Kevin
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