i was in a Kwik Trip two weeks ago when I ran into him. it was a tuesday before thanksgiving and i was in the check-out line holding a single BBQ-rib sandwich. Don was behind me, with his wintery mustache, wired glasses and deep smile. it was the first time that i had ran into Don outside of the context of Church, but he was genuinely so glad to see me. Don greets almost every sunday, not merely because he enjoys it, but as my friend shared one morning: "Don's spiritual gift may actually be in greeting." That tuesday Don shook my hand ( and arm ) with a big smile and despite forgetting my name ( i attend a large church ) really wanted to chat with me. We chatted about living in Eau Claire, our Thanksgiving plans, in which Don reared back, with wide-eyes and said
"oh boy, Isaac, we sure should see everyday as Thanksgiving. We as Christians have Christ in us, don't we? "
Don went on to share a segment of his story, how he has seen God at work in his life. How the way that he viewed and experienced Christ was never the same after he survived an accident. After that for him, life was all gift.
and I was struck by how he just kept wanting to share with me the good that God had done for him in his life. He shared with me that "we have a choice" to live each day in thanksgiving. and For Don, he had made his choice. thanksgiving was everyday.
* * *
One thing that has been coming to mind for me in the last month or so is the idea of "15 seconds of Gratitude." I stumbled upon this VIDEO made by Kevin Mathis, a Eucharist Church pastor who lives in Hamilton, ON. After watching some of his videos, I realized that I've actually been to his church before. But I really like the way that he puts to words and explains a lot of the common thoughts that I have throughout a day. I saw the tag line of "15-seconds" come up on my "must-watch" list, and I knew that I had heard of that term before, but I couldn't quite nail it. Watching the video, I realized that it was from the exchange of Richard Rohr and Science Mike, from a Liturgists Podcast that I had listened to a month prior, called The Cosmic Christ. Which I really recommend. Rohr speaks to and challenges a lot of simple ways that I have thought about the Trinity, as well as shares about contemplative prayer and his experiences living in a community as a Francisian priest.
However, this idea of 15 seconds of gratitude is that the mind needs 15 seconds to truly synthesize and recognize thankfulness in the body and mind. This is one that makes a lot of sense to me. Finding things that I'm thankful for is not usually the hard part for me. But sitting with those things and reflecting on them is what is. Last year, when I read One Thousand Gifts, it was very helpfull for me to phyiscally catalogue things that I was thankful for, to really recognize what was bringing me life. All the small things especially. It can be tempting lump everything together and just state "I'm thankful!" But I don't think that is a practice that we grow from as much. We can be thankful to God for the "general" goodness that life can bring, but I would challenge us to think about the specifics.
more simply:
What is something specific God has created that I really like?
What is something specific I do everyday that helps me feel like I'm living the way I should?
What specific ways have I experienced God and his glory?
& more deeply:
What specific ways might God be fixing a broken and sinful world around me?
What specific ways is He creating beautiful things in a contrast to dark things?
How specifically is/can/should be my life different today because I believe that a God knows me and loves me and that I can know Him through Jesus Christ?
and how does that lead me towards gratitude? These are questions that I am asking myself today.
As I drive to work many early mornings around 5am before the sun has even thought about coming up, I often like to spend 15 seconds thanking God for the leaning birch/aspen trees the highlight the south side of North Crossing. I have found that mornings I pray out loud on my drive to work are ones that I am able to better combat tiredness and grumpiness, more able to recognize a peace within myself, and more able to interact better with others. I think I've grown in thanking God for both the essentials of life as well as the not-so-often-thought-abouts. For grace from co-workers, but also for my warm gloves. For money to buy groceries, as well as a quick but meaningful conversation. For the sun-rise at work when I'm already tired and it's been a hard one.
As I've been learning about different spiritual practices, from prayer to journalling to rest to reflection, I'm always reminded that things aren't always easy. I as someone who is lazy and selfish most times, can be the first to say that I do not always like dilligence. But I'm trusting that it's worth it, because I'm trusting that it can help me know better the One who gives me life.
* * *
"oh boy, Isaac, we sure should see everyday as Thanksgiving. We as Christians have Christ in us, don't we? "
Don went on to share a segment of his story, how he has seen God at work in his life. How the way that he viewed and experienced Christ was never the same after he survived an accident. After that for him, life was all gift.
and I was struck by how he just kept wanting to share with me the good that God had done for him in his life. He shared with me that "we have a choice" to live each day in thanksgiving. and For Don, he had made his choice. thanksgiving was everyday.
* * *
One thing that has been coming to mind for me in the last month or so is the idea of "15 seconds of Gratitude." I stumbled upon this VIDEO made by Kevin Mathis, a Eucharist Church pastor who lives in Hamilton, ON. After watching some of his videos, I realized that I've actually been to his church before. But I really like the way that he puts to words and explains a lot of the common thoughts that I have throughout a day. I saw the tag line of "15-seconds" come up on my "must-watch" list, and I knew that I had heard of that term before, but I couldn't quite nail it. Watching the video, I realized that it was from the exchange of Richard Rohr and Science Mike, from a Liturgists Podcast that I had listened to a month prior, called The Cosmic Christ. Which I really recommend. Rohr speaks to and challenges a lot of simple ways that I have thought about the Trinity, as well as shares about contemplative prayer and his experiences living in a community as a Francisian priest.
However, this idea of 15 seconds of gratitude is that the mind needs 15 seconds to truly synthesize and recognize thankfulness in the body and mind. This is one that makes a lot of sense to me. Finding things that I'm thankful for is not usually the hard part for me. But sitting with those things and reflecting on them is what is. Last year, when I read One Thousand Gifts, it was very helpfull for me to phyiscally catalogue things that I was thankful for, to really recognize what was bringing me life. All the small things especially. It can be tempting lump everything together and just state "I'm thankful!" But I don't think that is a practice that we grow from as much. We can be thankful to God for the "general" goodness that life can bring, but I would challenge us to think about the specifics.
more simply:
What is something specific God has created that I really like?
What is something specific I do everyday that helps me feel like I'm living the way I should?
What specific ways have I experienced God and his glory?
& more deeply:
What specific ways might God be fixing a broken and sinful world around me?
What specific ways is He creating beautiful things in a contrast to dark things?
How specifically is/can/should be my life different today because I believe that a God knows me and loves me and that I can know Him through Jesus Christ?
and how does that lead me towards gratitude? These are questions that I am asking myself today.
As I drive to work many early mornings around 5am before the sun has even thought about coming up, I often like to spend 15 seconds thanking God for the leaning birch/aspen trees the highlight the south side of North Crossing. I have found that mornings I pray out loud on my drive to work are ones that I am able to better combat tiredness and grumpiness, more able to recognize a peace within myself, and more able to interact better with others. I think I've grown in thanking God for both the essentials of life as well as the not-so-often-thought-abouts. For grace from co-workers, but also for my warm gloves. For money to buy groceries, as well as a quick but meaningful conversation. For the sun-rise at work when I'm already tired and it's been a hard one.
As I've been learning about different spiritual practices, from prayer to journalling to rest to reflection, I'm always reminded that things aren't always easy. I as someone who is lazy and selfish most times, can be the first to say that I do not always like dilligence. But I'm trusting that it's worth it, because I'm trusting that it can help me know better the One who gives me life.
* * *