“Practicing gratitude is a practice that reengages our aliveness—
that awakens us to what is precious.” — Mark Nepo
Every month, All Peoples makes materials available to facilitate exploring a theological theme. Our November theme asks us to explore Nurturing Gratitude.
For so many of us, when we think about gratitude, we think about the big moments of our lives but there can be so much more to it!
Gratitude is essential. It’s not simply a nice “extra” to get around to when we can. We need moments of pause in which we are filled and replenished by the large and small wonders of this world. If we want to be truly alive, we need to pay attention when moments of gratitude arise. And there are moments of gratitude available to us every day if we are willing and able to be open to them, to be aware of them. Often these experiences of gratitude spring from unexpected blessings.
In one way or another, there is a big difference between appreciating the blessings of our lives and committing ourselves to truly experiencing them. It’s one thing to notice the beauty of nature; it’s quite another to pull yourself out of the rat race so you have time to enjoy it. And making a list of things we’re grateful for is impactful, but not nearly as powerful as the practice of “paying it forward.”
It’s all a way of gently pointing out that some of us practice gratitude passively and others actively. Or maybe the better way to put it is to say, gratitude needs our help! It can’t always flower all on its own, because there are serious threats out there: busyness, the lure of climbing the ladder, worries about the state of our world. They all work like weeds, suffocating and crowding out gratitude before it has a chance to sprout even the tiniest leaf.
Which means that maybe the most important part of this month’s theme is the “nurturing” part. Sitting back and waiting for gratitude to arise is simply not enough. That’s just not how gardens grow. If we listen carefully to the call of gratitude, we will hear a challenge to change our lives, not just appreciate them.
So, as we weave our way through this month’s journey, may we carry with us the question of “What do I need to do a better job of noticing?” But may we also not forget the possibly even more important question of “What practices of weeding does gratitude need from me?”
One of the best ways to explore our monthly theme is to talk about it with people who are close to you. It’s also a great way to develop trust and deepen our relationships! So let’s explore together! Click
HERE to access a list of reflection questions.
