I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love. ~ Wendell Berry

Being awake to all that is alive and thriving in the world is a guiding principle of grateful living. When our daily lives are too busy or filled with worry, it’s understandable that our perspective can narrow, that we can forget to look up and out at the world all around. Even when we’re attuned to the larger world, it’s often by way of our news feed of choice, where stories of struggle, violence, and loss far outweigh anything having to do with love.

Beginning today and continuing through the week, make time to seek out, notice, and celebrate the places where love is alive in the world. You might look as close as your neighborhood or workplace, to the larger community in which you live, or as globally as large-scale movements that provide healthcare, food, and shelter; that care for the planet; that strive for equity.

  • Amidst the very real challenges in the world right now, where is love thriving? Where do there continue to be extraordinary expressions of generosity, kindness, and service – all embodiments of love?
  • As you intentionally tune in to the love that is alive in the world, does it shift how you feel? Does it awaken care and appreciation? Is it reassuring or inspiring?

Share Your Reflection: At any point this week, we invite you to share a headline you come across that’s a meaningful example of how love is alive and well in the world, including any reflection you might like to offer about how you were moved by this expression of love. Please add to the celebration of love by posting below!

Deepening Resource: Love: Life’s Greatest Gift, A Short Essay by Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee

Image: Each day of our Grateful for Love practice includes an image of love as expressed through street art. Today’s Photo: Tengyart/Unsplash

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Enjoy the full seven-day Grateful for Love practice.


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