Gratitude Lounge

Yesterday for the first time I’ve gathered together with other gratefulness people in a contemplative event organized play some women from Europe. The event can be found in the same drop-down menu as this lounge I just going down a little further to the event section. We started out with a reading from brother David followed by a guided meditation on portions of that reading. And then we were in silence before they were very sharing’s from people in the group. It took about an hour altogether. There are six of these sessions a year I think, one every two months. There was several people from Germany, another from the Netherlands, someone from Italy, through from the USA and one from South America.

As you read the following words of wisdom from the elders of the Hopi Nation, be mindful which images and phrases are most resonant for you at this time in your life and in our world.

“You have been telling the people that this is the Eleventh Hour.
Now you must go back and tell the people that this is the Hour.
And there are things to be considered:
Where are you living?
What are you doing?
What are your relationships?
Are you in right relation?
Where is your water?
Know your garden.
It is time to speak your Truth.
Create your community.
Be good to each other.
And do not look outside yourself for the leader.
This could be a good time!
There is a river flowing now very fast.
It is so great and swift that there are those who will be afraid.
They will try to hold on to the shore.
They will feel they are being torn apart,
and they will suffer greatly.
Know the river has its destination.
The elders say we must let go of the shore,
push off into the middle of
the river, keep our eyes open, and our heads above the water.
See who is in there with you and celebrate.
At this time in history, we are to take nothing personally.
Least of all, ourselves.
For the moment that we do, our spiritual growth
and journey comes to a halt.
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
Banish the word struggle from your attitude and your vocabulary.
All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner
and in celebration.
We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”
The Elders, Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation

From my daily reading of the ancient Chinese wisdom sayings of Lau Tsu…the Tao Te Ching.

“Do you think you can take over the Tao and improve it? I do not believe it can be done. The Tao is sacred. You cannot improve it. If you try to change it, you will ruin it. If you try to hold it, you will lose it. So sometimes things are ahead and sometimes they are behind; sometimes breathing is hard, sometimes it comes easily; sometimes there is strength and sometimes weakness; sometimes one is up and sometimes down. Therefore the sage avoids extremes, excesses, and complacency.”