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Last Monday, the Gospel reading was about the centurion (Luke 7:1-10) who interceded for his slave. It is interesting to note that this centurion was an outsider among the Jewish community. A perfect candidate to be hated, being the Roman conqueror and an officer at that. As the story unravels, though, he defies all expectations or stereotypes. He is the kindest person you could meet. He helps the Jewish community and goes out of his way to plead for the healing of his slave. Talking about genuine kindness and humility, this centurion is worth emulating.
This is probably a very appropriate topic to start this year’s series. Since we have just finished the gift-giving frenzy of the holidays, it is an opportune time to discuss gratitude.
Can you find the happy in the crappy? Life has taught me that yes I can for as long as I draw from the three G’s—God’s grace, gratitude and giving. God’s grace, author Anne Lamott likes to say, meets us where we are and does not leave us where it found us. Consistently, I must say, His grace never fails, no matter how often and for as long as it takes.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4) Today is Gaudete Sunday, one of two Sundays in the liturgical year when the priest wears rose-colored vestments. (The other Sunday is the third Sunday of Lent.)
Every year, at around this time, my word for the following year finds me. For 2010, it was grace, and true enough I found it in abundance that year—in the events that conspired to make things happen, in the people I met, in every little blessing that I was given. For 2011, the word given to me was surrender. All throughout that year, I found myself in situations that helped teach me the very difficult lesson of learning how to let go. Although there continue to be times when I continue to grapple with it, overall, at the close of 2011 there was no longer any fear—that I could let go of whatever it was and God would catch me, or provide for me, each and every time.
I always tell my friends that I am fortunate and thankful to have found Marina. The blessing that she is to my life becomes part of the conversation whenever I meet up with these friends.
I write this because one of the most difficult things for me to do is not to worry about the future. I worry about the future constantly that I forget about the present.
Put your attention now on your Higher Self which is the God within you. Fill your mind and heart with love and gratitude, and this feeling will bring to you all the things you will ever need—everything for your highest good and greatest joy.
The other night I was out with a handsome young man. He asked me to be his date at a degustation. Frankly, I have always found the word a little confusing. It sounds like something I won’t enjoy.
“What are you thankful for?” was the question at the bottom of an e-mail I had received the day after getting some earth-shaking news. I sat quietly, watching the cursor blink as I blinked away tears.
