Thinking about Thanksgiving

A friend of mine posted about GRATITUDE. This really made me think of all the times I ask for things but forget to thank God and others for the many gifts and favors. I have been so caught up in me of late that I forget all the gifts that go into making me who I am. This prayer helped me focus.


Prayer of Thanksgiving

God of all blessings,
source of all life,
giver of all grace:

We thank you for the gift of life:
for the breath
that sustains life,
for the food of this earth
that nurtures life,
for the love of family and friends
without which there would be no life.

We thank you for the mystery of creation:
for the beauty
that the eye can see,
for the joy
that the ear may hear,
for the unknown
that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder,
for the expanse of space
that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves.

We thank you for setting us in communities:
for families
who nurture our becoming,
for friends
who love us by choice,
for companions at work,
who share our burdens and daily tasks,
for strangers
who welcome us into their midst,
for people from other lands
who call us to grow in understanding,
for children
who lighten our moments with delight,
for the unborn,
who offer us hope for the future.

We thank you for this day:
for life
and one more day to love,
for opportunity
and one more day to work for justice and peace,
for neighbors
and one more person to love
and by whom be loved,
for your grace
and one more experience of your presence,
for your promise:
to be with us,
to be our God,
and to give salvation.

For these, and all blessings,
we give you thanks, eternal, loving God,
through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

- Vienna Cobb Anderson

An Irish throw brings a needed message....

A very good friend gave me an Irish throw last year for Christmas. I always have it folded over the rocking chair in my bedroom; so I have not read the verse much. I cherish this gift and did not want to over used it or get it dirty. Today when I laid down for a nap, there was a light breeze, so I used it to cover up. While unfolding it the verse was like a lightening bolt -- a wonderful message, I sorely needed. Needless to say the throw will not go back to the rocking chair ....

May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall—
You do not walk alone.

May He Himself illumine our minds!

Hindu Daily prayers :

Gayatri Mantra

OM BHUR BHUVAH SUVAHA
TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM
BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI
DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT

Translation:

We meditate upon the
glorious splendor of
the Vivifier Divine.
May He Himself illumine our minds!

I needed this prayer earlier today. I allowed disappointment to cloud my insides. I found out I did not get a job I really wanted -- a job I felt was a perfect match -- a job that was a new beginning. "oh, they really wanted you. They thought you were very qualified but decided to go with an internal person." I went into major shut down!! I was so shocked I wandered around in a daze. I was already upset this morning as I had to cash in part of my 401K -- signing the form was so hard. The events caused me to curl up as if non-functional. I could not grasp the good. The events were a slap in the face -- "you have failed."

I so want to trust that God has an eternal plan for me but ... I get so caught up in the hurt, the pain when something does not go the way I had hoped. I need to see that there is something better out there. Why is it so hard for me to trust, so hard to turn to the one person that listens when I am in need. I know the theology, I know the words, yet I cannot fly beyond myself. I try to plan out my divine experiences, I want the picture to be colored my way. Ah, to be like Francis or the Little Flower that found the key in the little things. I need to say more and more -- "May He Himself illumine my mind!" I plan to make this my mantra for the upcoming week. Again my need to accept the power of silence and His Grace.

In the Silence..... to long for, but to fear.

Last night at 2:00 am when I could not sleep I reflected on SILENCE. It is amazing to me that we all long for silence, for that peace and tranquilly. However, when I have it I seem to get agitated and frustrated. I want to be wrapped in the beauty of silence so that I can calm my inner self and also hear the Voice of the Divine. Yet, I do not seem to have the inner strength to grasp it and be quiet internally. Silence makes me think more about my issues, problems and the chatter in my head get worse. Why can't I just relax like a little child and be wrapped in the silence. I so much would like to be able to just "chill." Last night I could feel the breeze coming in the window, hear a very gentle rain, but as I lay there I could not let go and be washed in the moment. I was up and down and fiddling with stuff. Such a contradiction to want something, receive the gift of it and yet .... I so just wanted to lay there and enjoy the silence to be able to hear a voice other than mine. May I tried too hard, maybe I was planning it out, maybe I was being too philosophical and not spiritually naked enough.

I found my answer this morning in this quote:

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.”
Mother Teresa

I ask for the grace to grasp God's hand the next time the silence arrives. I ask for the faith to let go and be absorbed in His peace. I ask for the hope to find my soul in this divine silence.

You have been a pleaser ...

“For as long as you can remember, you have been a pleaser, depending on others to give you an identity. You need not look at that only in a negative way. You wanted to give your heart to others, and you did so quickly and easily. But now you are being asked to let go of all these self-made props and trust that God is enough for you. You must stop being a pleaser and reclaim your identity as a free self.” Henri Nouwen

Truer words have never been spoken. When I found this quote I felt like it was God Himself speaking to me. Or maybe shacking me, giving me the kick I need. From the time I was very young I always sought approval --"is it good?" "did I do the right thing?" "is it ok?" Those words have come from deep within me for over 58 years. My survival and self worth have been tied to the responses I got to those questions. Even when in my heart I knew I had done the best, I needed to hear it from someone else. I sought out affirmation -- my knowing it was great did not matter until someone else said it. Some may find this odd since I am often seen as a strength and help to others. They come to me when they are struggling. BUT, this quote made me reflect through my life -- my parents, grade school, seminary years, college, grad school, marriage, work and see the wheel running over and over again seeking to hear the YES that is good. It was a bitter sweet moment, much more of a reality check then i expected. I sit here just wanting to cry, but cannot seem to let go and have that purification. I remembered years when I was married and cooking Thanksgiving dinner -- knowing it was spectacular but it meant nothing to me unless I heard that from my ex-wife. The years of no response weighed on me more than people might realize. In work life I sought the same affirmation and at times when I would hear it I might say to myself -- "oh, they are just being nice and don't want to hurt me." I would long to hear someone say they really liked me. It is really only in the past year that I have been able to reach within for self validation. It has been a long process and I fall back into old ways. Being unemployed has brought me back to my old cycle but reading this quote tonight is the slap in the face I needed. I have been blessed with many gifts and talent -- sometimes I am overwhelmed with the gifts God has given me. I know the only YES I need is the one from Him. If I just open the inner eyes of my being I would see that He has constantly been holding me up with Divine Love. I plan to continue to be and become my true self. I need to grasp the grace within. I need the support and love of friends and family. Most of all I need the goodness that God has placed in me and turn more to Him ... he is the architect of the Divine Plan. Open me, fill me, break open my heart to your love. I admit I am very afraid, to break through old habits is hard. Yet, there is a hand always there to help me, there is a universal energy to give me strength.

On the Feast of Mother Cabrini

A DISCERNMENT PRAYER by St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

My Jesus,
I have not always recognized
your loving plans for me.

Every day,
with the help of your light,
I learn more of your loving care.

Continue to increase
my awareness of the gentleness of
your loving plans.

I want to follow the purpose
for which I was created.

See, I am in your hands.

I need you to help me choose
the best way to serve you.

Walk with me, Jesus.
Stay by my side and guide me!

Prepare your Temple for the Light

"By the anxieties and worries of this life Satan tries to dull man's heart and make a dwelling for himself there."-------St. Francis of Assisi

We are to be the temple of the divine. The purpose of life is develop within our souls a place for the divine to dwell. Through our actions and choices we either decorate and illumine our temple, or we darken it and make it uninviting.

Move oh soul more and more towards the illumination of the Eternal. Constantly clean out the dirt and dust of my fears. Prepare each day anew for the Light of Light to move in an dwell. Oh soul welcome the unexpected, invite in the unknown, chase out the worries that prevent peace and the fire of Love within. Evil will be driven out by the Truth that we walk in the Eternal Plan.