A Season of Gratitude

Give Thanks

“My work is loving the world.

Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird

equal seekers of sweetness.

Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.

Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?

Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me

keep my mind on what matters,

which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished.

The phoebe, the delphinium.

The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.

Which is mostly rejoicing, since all

the ingredients are here.

Which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart

and these body-clothes,

a mouth with which to give shouts of joy

to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam

telling them all, over and over, how it is

that we live forever.”

Mary Oliver (“Messenger”)

Who better to deliver a message of joy and thanksgiving than Mary Oliver. Rejoicing in the miracle of life is her business. We could all lighten our loads by reading just one of Mary Oliver's poems each day. Perhaps we would get a sense of just how fortunate we are to be alive on planet Earth at this moment in time.

We humans worry a lot—speaking for myself, of course. We analyze and diagnose and bemoan the wrongs, while all around us beauty is bursting forth. Birds are singing, squirrels are jumping through the trees and stashing away acorns. They have no need to curse and carry-on. They are focused on their work—which is mostly preparing for winter.

As we move into the holidays, let's put gratitude into practice. No matter what ills may befall us, there is always something that gives us joy. Maybe focusing on those gifts, and each day citing one thing that makes your heart happy will make this season the blessing it is meant to be. Rejoice and be glad in it—that is our work!

                                                           In the Spirit,

                                                               Jane