My vision of the world? My hope for the future? This topic sounds a bit big. Allow me to start small — say, with crows. They are my special friends. Just as I am writing these lines, one of them, the shy one among my three regular guests, is gobbling up the Kitty Fritters I put out for them. This brings to mind a short poem by Robert Frost that might provide a stepping-stone for our deliberations about world-vision and hope for the future — if any.
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Surely you will remember a similar experience of your own: some quirky little incident made you smile, changed your mood, and suddenly the world looked brighter. If this ever happened to you, the key for understanding a causal chain of great consequence is in your hand: any change in attitude changes the way one sees the world, and this in turn changes the way one acts. When Robert Frost claims that the crow’s little trick “saved” part of a day he had rued, or of which he repented, he means this in the full sense of a redeeming change of heart. When he got home, I’m sure he greeted Mrs. Frost in a better mood than he would have been able to do without the crow’s nudge. And there is no telling what this did to her — and to the way she treated the dog afterwards, or talked more kindly to her neighbor.
But what exactly triggered this fortunate chain reaction? What gave Frost’s heart “a change of mood”? Put yourself in his shoes as he is slouching moodily through the woods. Then feel that sudden dusting with snow. Doesn’t it wake you up from your brooding? An interruption like this could make you angry if you insisted on staying preoccupied with your problems.
But — surprise — the cold spray makes you snap out of being wrapped in yourself, and you face the given: a hemlock tree, a crow, melting snow in your neck. Bingo! A saving change of mood. What caused this change was gratefulness.
Gratefulness? I hear a chorus of disbelief. Admittedly, Frost didn’t feel like thanking the crow. But gratefulness is more than giving thanks. Thanking comes with thinking. Gratefulness happens before thinking — in that brief gap between “the dust of snow” and thought. It is the spontaneous response of the human heart to the gratuitously given. This gratefulness releases energy. In the gap of surprise before the first thought, the powerful surge of an intelligence that far surpasses thought takes hold of us. We can make our thinking a tool of this creative intelligence that constantly brings forth and sustains the world. If we willingly open ourselves to its gentle force, it has power to change whatever is not in tune with it. Gratitude is thinking in tune with the cosmic intelligence that inspires us in grateful moments. It can change more than a mood; it can change a world.
Brother David Steindl Rast is a 96-year-old benedictine monk. Excerpt above from here.
Seed Questions for Reflection
What does gratefulness mean to you? Can you share a personal story of a time you were aware of feeling grateful before thinking? What helps you grow in gratefulness?
"...gratefulness is more than giving thanks. Thanking comes with thinking. Gratefulness happens before thinking — in that brief gap between “the dust of snow” and thought. It is the spontaneous response of the human heart to the gratuitously given."
I have to chew on that thought for a while before I can swallow it.
Gratefulness is more than giving thanks. Greatefulness is a spontaneous response to something pleasant. May be not necessarily be while something is happening. In fact, I may feel frustrated and even angry about something while being at the moment of it happening. Then later on, it can turn out that because of the very thing that upset me a while back, I realize later that I have been spared a much worse situation.
Recently, my car won't start after a coffee break at a resting place along the highway. I still had a few kilometers to cover and I wanted to make it before dark. I reported my problem to our auto club online. After a long wait, my phone rang. I tr... View full comment
"...gratefulness is more than giving thanks. Thanking comes with thinking. Gratefulness happens before thinking — in that brief gap between “the dust of snow” and thought. It is the spontaneous response of the human heart to the gratuitously given."
I have to chew on that thought for a while before I can swallow it.
Gratefulness is more than giving thanks. Greatefulness is a spontaneous response to something pleasant. May be not necessarily be while something is happening. In fact, I may feel frustrated and even angry about something while being at the moment of it happening. Then later on, it can turn out that because of the very thing that upset me a while back, I realize later that I have been spared a much worse situation.
Recently, my car won't start after a coffee break at a resting place along the highway. I still had a few kilometers to cover and I wanted to make it before dark. I reported my problem to our auto club online. After a long wait, my phone rang. I tried to answer it immeadiately. But the connection was broken after only two rings! I cursed.
Then I tried to start the car again. No more problem, this time. We were able to continue with our drive. But just a couple of kilometers later, we got stuck on a stillstand traffic.
It turns out that there was a very bad accident that just occured involving at least four vehicles. The whole four lane highway on our direction of travel had to be closed to rescue the victims and clean up the mess of the carambolage.
We got stuck there for 3 and a half hours.
Looking back, I felt grateful that my car did not start immediately after our coffee break. Otherwise we would be right smack at the location where the accident occured. The feeling of gratefulness was there spontaneously. I was able to "enjoy" our being stucked in traffic. I took pictures of the orderly lined up vehicles along the highway. It was my first time to get off and walk on the "Autobahn" in Germany. I talked with some of the other drivers.
Although we were inconvinienced by the unexpected halt and long pause on our drive (most of us simply going home after a long day's work), we were all thankful that we were not involved in the accident directly. Hide full comment
It comes in waves, the universe reminds us constantly, gives us endless guidance in these interactions. When we can perceive them, respond to them then gratitude accompanies these moments. My usual experience is that before thought, I bask in and absorb this deep, inner response, then tears come and I know that gratitude has arrived. It seems to me that giving and receiving are a single event. The thought is the recording of this event. Being in the moment...
PH
Pat Hardy
Sep 28, 2023
A quirky little incident...As I was taking a morning walk, I was jolted by something which suddenly fell on the top of my head. It was a small little pebble. Too small to hurt, it just made me laugh. I had been thinking about a deceased friend of mine known for his journalistic skills and sense of humor. "Must be Charley," I thought, "letting me know he still has his sense of humor." I saved it for the longest time as a reminder that sweet things can happen when we least expect it.
I was Grateful yesterday when a friend trusted me enough to share some difficulties they are going through. I was grateful for trust, connection and presence. I didn't think about any of that in the moment. In the moment I just experienced a fullness of love.
Perhaps that is what gratefulness is to me. A fullness of love.
Gratefulness is nourished and grows when I let it be spontaneous. I express gratitude not because I should but because I really feel it.
Wonderful. For awhile, I carried a small round rock around in my pocket. When I noticed it there, I thought of something different to be grateful for. In time, it shifted the whole tone of my attention. I dwelled on more positive things naturally. Life got easier and smoother. And things opened up within.
I was diagnosed with a brain tumor and had full blown brain surgery in May 2023.
My healing and recovery has me difficult
I was short tempered, and just plain old grumpy.
Yesterday the sum was low on the horizon and was splintering in through the windows and creating a dance of shadows and light on the knotty pine cabinets.
It stopped me in my tracks. That place of awe of just witnessing this before my mind could explain it. I think that is the place of stillness I find gratitude.
JD
Jagannatha DasOct 12, 2023
Thanks for sharing your reflections Amy.
It is those magical moments through which, even though we are still faceing our life's challenges and difficulties, we feel the joy and are trully grateful. The small wonders that help us see things in a much more open heart.
Gratefulness means freedom to me. It means a free and spacious heart that is open to others, animals, nature, wonder....all that is in the world. It allows me to remember wholeness and beauty when I am lost in fear, doubt or worry....it comforts my soul. Brings me home once again.
AN
Anagha
Sep 26, 2023
Gratitude was a something i thought forced out of a situation though it is true ,it felt bit artificial to look for it in every situation .but now what m really looking for the infinite grace surronds me ,when i get too narrow mindedly focused inside my mostly petty problems and cover up all the awesomeness .whats really artificial is me being blind the grace in plenty around me and forcefully replaying silly worries in my head
Ahhhhh! Every day I wake up I am grateful. And I can not remember any more what I felt like when every day was not the best day of my life. My gratefulness constantly exceeds my expectations and so I am happy.
To love is to be happy with. I am so blessed , I am so blessed, I am so grateful, I am so blessed.
And every little cell in my body is happy, every little cell in my body is well. It is choice.
I continue to be grateful to my cat who jumps up and sits on my computer keyboard, stopping my digital unreal world for me and inviting me into his. I think of Rumi and the wedding and curb my irritation at being forcibly brought back to what is real.
This morning on waking up, I was able to realise, through some grace, that my first thoughts were about doing, about what has not been done. In that moment of perhaps being able to observe my thoughts, gratitude came, gratitude for being alive, for being able to wake up, gratitude for this day. And gratitude helps me connect with the wisdom of the heart to be able to welcome the new in the present moment.
To wake up to this, and then read this article, makes me marvel at the connections in the collective consciousness. I love such synchronicities.
Gratefulness is about appreciating the simple pleasures, acknowledging the kindness of others, and finding joy in the everyday moments. It's a reminder that even amidst challenges, there is much to be thankful for.
Research has shown that practicing gratitude can have a profound impact on our well-being. It reduces stress, fosters optimism, and improves our relationships. When we cultivate a grateful heart, we become more resilient, better able to navigate life's ups and downs.
KI
kingSep 26, 2023
Gratefulness is a universal language that transcends borders and cultures. It's a reminder that, despite our differences, we all share in the human experience of joys and challenges. It's a source of strength that can help us persevere through adversity and find solace in moments of solitude.
This is a very depressing post. In the sense that it implies only when special things happen in my environment will I be able to be grateful. For people who live in very pressing environments with very pressing issues constantly surrounding them, it seems their opportunity to be grateful is extremely limited, if they can only be inspired externally.
AB
Abbie
Sep 25, 2023
I can only share that yesterday I had brought my daughter to a gymnastics class/team trial. I felt very nervous because she really wanted to be accepted and had just been rejected by another class. The students in this class were even more advanced than the other. And I was trying to think of how to manage the rejection with her again. I sort of explained my story to a man sitting next to me. He came back 10 minutes later with a cup of coffee and he said, this is for you, because you are nervous. It still makes me smile. The Gift of the Magi.
Grateful means to me to be deeply thankful and appreciative -- it's a feeling that is deeper than thankful. Grateful is a feeling that emerges within me and I notice it. For me, grateful is different than and separate from expressing thanks. Gratefulness happens, giving thanks takes thinking. My feeling of grateful always comes before thinking. First I feel grateful, then I become aware of it, and then I think about my gratefulness and if I will express thanks and how I will express it. One thing that helps me grow in gratefulness is knowing I am always receiving gifts. Enjoying, valuing, and embracing gratefulness also makes it happen more often and helps it grow and helps me grow in it.
Just yesterday morning, I was deep into some clerical work mode working on something and my husband suggested we go to the beach to throw a line in the water to fish. He was asking me to get out of my head and all the stuff going on inside to go outside and get in nature. As I was sitting on the beach looking at all the beauty around me, gratefulness came to me. The shore birds were going along the beach seeking their nourishing tidbits oblivious to the turmoil in my head. I became so grateful to be experiencing those moments there in nature and with my husband by my side. It truly became a magical time for us both as we got involved with our fishing experience. I won't bore anyone with what we caught, haha, but it is quite memorable for me and I am grateful for that.
This is truly a spiritual way of living that captures a profound sense of religiosity while going beyond the narrow confines of religions and their cumbersome dictates and dogmas.
As I under from my heartfelt experience of gratefulness, it arises from my heart, not from my head. When a moment of gatefuness arrives, it surprises me and it makes my heart filled with awe and joy. And the beauty of this wonderful arrival of the gratefulness is that it comes without formal invitation and without looking for it. It is sponateous.
I love one of Rabindranth Tagore's short poem. He was looking for beauty in the colorful clouds on the Himalayas, and in the flowing water of Mother Ganga, the Ganges. A blooming flower in his front yard looks at the poet and says. " O Great poet, you're lookig for beauty far away though it is so close to you smilingly looking at you!" These are moments of gratefuness.
I experience gratefuness in small things such as dust of snow falling on my head, sparrows looking for seeds and feefdng thier little baby birds, a child in a grocerystore smiling and waving his hand, and someone taking care of me as I am getting old and weak. They are Di... View full comment
As I under from my heartfelt experience of gratefulness, it arises from my heart, not from my head. When a moment of gatefuness arrives, it surprises me and it makes my heart filled with awe and joy. And the beauty of this wonderful arrival of the gratefulness is that it comes without formal invitation and without looking for it. It is sponateous.
I love one of Rabindranth Tagore's short poem. He was looking for beauty in the colorful clouds on the Himalayas, and in the flowing water of Mother Ganga, the Ganges. A blooming flower in his front yard looks at the poet and says. " O Great poet, you're lookig for beauty far away though it is so close to you smilingly looking at you!" These are moments of gratefuness.
I experience gratefuness in small things such as dust of snow falling on my head, sparrows looking for seeds and feefdng thier little baby birds, a child in a grocerystore smiling and waving his hand, and someone taking care of me as I am getting old and weak. They are Divine blessings and my herat is filled with joyful gatitude.
Keeping my heart open to receive gifts of gatitude and wothout seekig gatitude helps me grow in gratefulness. I am blessed to having handful of gracious people in my life and I am vey grateful to them.
Nmaste!
Jagdish P Dave Hide full comment
