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Gratefulness
The first of an eight-day exploration of what it means to live life as a gift. Inspired by Br. David Steindl-Rast's meditation, A Grateful Day.
Welcome to the first day of our practice. Let’s begin…
Please close your eyes while you take three slow, deep breaths. Then open your eyes and consider the invitation to: “Live as if Nothing is Promised You.”
In A Grateful Day, Br. David says:
“You think this is just another day in your life? It’s not just another day. It’s the one day that is given to you today.”
Br. David reminds us that this day is a gift. It is given to us. It is not guaranteed.
It can be sad, scary, and humbling to acknowledge that not everyone who anticipated experiencing this day is actually alive today. Truly, nothing is promised to us. Things change. We are fragile and impermanent beings, and recognition of our fragility (and the vulnerability of this wondrous planet) can be both painful and also liberating. Such recognition frees us to not take things for granted; to honor and enjoy all that which will change, and to treasure that which is available to us now, such as our bodies, our relationships, fresh air, a meal, or a beautiful sunset.
Today, in the spirit and truth of the fact that nothing is promised to us, we invite you to “Treasure this day and treasure yourself.”
If you would like to explore this topic further, you might appreciate:
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I have never been very friendly with uncertainty. Uncertainty would fill me with fear and then I would try to control everything to make it go away. But uncertainty is a big part of life, and I realized a few months ago that I need to establish a new relationship with it, one that is more accepting and restful. But this meditation added a new dimension. If nothing is promised (uncertainty), then everything is gift. Whereas I was working at an attitude of neutrality with it, now I can work at see...
I have never been very friendly with uncertainty. Uncertainty would fill me with fear and then I would try to control everything to make it go away. But uncertainty is a big part of life, and I realized a few months ago that I need to establish a new relationship with it, one that is more accepting and restful. But this meditation added a new dimension. If nothing is promised (uncertainty), then everything is gift. Whereas I was working at an attitude of neutrality with it, now I can work at seeing it as full of possibilities and, whatever is hidden in it and comes my way, as gift. I may not like what comes my way, but hidden even in difficulties, there are gifts, even if those are just learning experiences. I admit I’m very green at seeing things this way, but I think it’s worth pursuing as a way of becoming more open to life as it comes.
In a way, yes - it is scary to be reminded that this moment, this day, these opportunities will never be here again. I'm reminded of the poem - truly one of my favorites - by Robert Frost... "The Road Not Taken". "Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back." For the author knows that - even if the opportunity does come for him to take the other path the next time - it will not be the same choice, because the two paths wil...
In a way, yes – it is scary to be reminded that this moment, this day, these opportunities will never be here again. I’m reminded of the poem – truly one of my favorites – by Robert Frost… “The Road Not Taken”. “Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.” For the author knows that – even if the opportunity does come for him to take the other path the next time – it will not be the same choice, because the two paths will NEVER really be the same again. That said, it is this fact that makes life so important.. and makes it so important to live life fully TODAY… Because if we were immortal like some of the TV and movie characters we see, then honestly – we would have no incentive to do anything, because it’s the knowing that it’s so brief that makes life have VALUE. Thanks for the reminder. <3
Nothing is promised to us, is truly strong. Just to know it, sometimes I feel anxiety and I would like to do everything in a different way. But I can’t leave, I need to learn to be patient.
The thoughts that nothing is promised, and things change are very freeing. Keeping them in mind is helping me to be flexible and present to the moment, grateful for the moment.
Life may have its ups and downs with dreams on either side so take each day and live it well and just enjoy the ride. This is a quote I’ve been saying for 20 years. It seems apropos was today’s reflection.
I read the poem Otherwise for the first time yesterday. It resonated in my thoughts all day. I am glad it is posted here. To be so grateful for what I have and can experience, and that it is not “Otherwise”. Thank you for sharing.
is there a hashtag for posting pictures on Instagram? 🙂
Thanks for asking, Suzana. You might try #Gratefulness or if related to this practice #GratefulDay and #GratefulYear. Thanks!
What a liberation to assume that nothing is promised to me. No expectations, no senseless waiting, no disappointment, no accuse just a life now and here with childlike eyes…
Agreed. The fact is that neither life nor God nor universe has promised us anything. It is freeing and presents us with a sense of simple clarity.
Living a life as if this very day could very well be the last day of our lives affords us the opportunity to see life with a beginner’s mind with child-like wonder and magic.
What a beautiful thought Helga. Thank you.
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