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In Thanksgiving for Life: Respond Creatively

Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB/The Gratefulness Team
10 Reflections
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Enjoy this practice as a stand-alone experience or as the third of a five-day series exploring belonging, generosity, creativity, non-violence and courage through a Pledge for Grateful Living, crafted by Br. David Steindl-Rast.

In thanksgiving for life, I pledge to overcome APATHY by waking up to the opportunities that a given moment offers me and so to respond CREATIVELY to every situation.

Let these words settle into your whole being. When you feel complete with your meditation on the pledge, deepen your exploration with the following reflections and practice suggestions.

  • Throughout the day, make an effort to be alert to and act upon opportunities that might normally pass you by: the opportunity to learn, to be kind, to be courageous, to listen. Reflect upon the impact of your participation.
  • Experiment with imagining what it would be like if something you take for granted was no longer available to you. For example: electricity, running water, your eyesight, the roof over your head, your next meal…How do you feel about those things after imagining them not being accessible?
  • Stretch yourself in creatively responding to what arises today. Notice when you are drawn to take the easy way out of a situation, and instead endeavor to be creative in your response. In your conversations and actions, stretch your creative muscles and notice the impact.
  • Commit to being more awake to the continual presence of opportunity, and responding creatively to each situation as it arises.

Should you be inspired, please leave a reflection below…

 

Enjoy the full five-day In Thanksgiving for Life practice.

  • Terry

    This is truly a LIFE practice! It feels good and Gratefulness arises in me. They are guiding measures that have been gifted to help me in my Journey. Thank you. I feel I cannot stop saying and feeling Thankful

  • reality
    'Tis a twig of poetree that comes to mind :) Questing? From its first sagacious leap To its last, imparted Prognostications, future, past Do, verily, take one's hand, An envisioning dance unplanned. Though, feathered, light As if bird sung, its lyric, A realists imaginations flight, On wing, knows no fear Of proximity to sun, web spun. For, it only unalights. Thus a universe' hymn does Ring true. Yet, this quills Unending point does draw, As if dipped in realisms bl...

    ‘Tis a twig of poetree that comes to mind 🙂

    Questing?

    From its first sagacious leap
    To its last, imparted
    Prognostications, future, past
    Do, verily, take one’s hand,
    An envisioning dance unplanned.

    Though, feathered, light
    As if bird sung, its lyric,
    A realists imaginations flight,
    On wing, knows no fear
    Of proximity to sun, web spun.
    For, it only unalights.

    Thus a universe’ hymn does
    Ring true. Yet, this quills
    Unending point does draw,
    As if dipped in realisms blood,
    A trail of tears too.
    As well, not dwelling on
    Mans fears, it bears the truth

    Will fraternity’s reason
    Meet nature’s rhyme,
    Humanity metered, in time?
    Will ‘abhaya’, fearlessness,
    The unringing bell,
    An infant’s cry, unsoldier
    Marching off to die,
    Be evolutionarily?

    Yet, life, itself unsung,
    Silently bays, murder is
    Suicide stretched over time.
    What you grasp possesses you.
    While asking without
    Will you evoke as being
    Truly echoing? The thread
    Woven through the fabric of life?
    Would you, your soul arise?

    And a song that sings down Babylon 🙂

    Sinead O’Connor – ‘Oro Se do Bheatha Bhaile’:

    Thanx for this virtual community and it’s founders, as well as for all you All do; have a good eve’ 🙂 reality

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  • Merie
    Thank you for this practice on responding with creativity in thanksgiving for life. It resonates well with me. Being alert and aware of opportunities and choosing to act creatively opens a life giving space. I took the opportunity today to acknowledge my friends for their presence, goodness and friendship. I received much much more from their warm responses. I notice my heart is full and light hearted at the same time. Thank you for the good work done here by the dedicated team and the heart...

    Thank you for this practice on responding with creativity in thanksgiving for life. It resonates well with me. Being alert and aware of opportunities and choosing to act creatively opens a life giving space. I took the opportunity today to acknowledge my friends for their presence, goodness and friendship. I received much much more from their warm responses. I notice my heart is full and light hearted at the same time.
    Thank you for the good work done here by the dedicated team and the heartfelt contributions and deepening insights shared by readers.
    Creativity is shown here in so many ways. Gratitude.
    ‘ Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world.’ ~Berne Brown.

    Read More
  • Katrina

    For the second time this week I am reminded how blessed I am to live with electricity, clean running water, good plumbing and sanitation, internet, etc. And as I consider my gratitude for these gifts, I am reminded how frustrated and, at times, even angry or anxious I get when they are not working in my favor. May I find creative solutions for being grateful for these unseen basics and appreciate more fully the people who make sure I have working access to them.

  • GCharlotte

    In my endeavors of everyday living in gratitude for the things I utilize it is in earnesty that I say some words of thanks upon using!

  • James Smith
    An easy way out of participation in the human experience is to turn away from vulnerability which means turning away from the love that is available to all of us. Fearing vulnerability, I create a mental prison where I feel safe but end up isolated from the good that is outside of me. I want to integrate into the human experience, but it is up to me to deconstruct the wall that is built from the anxiety and hurtful experiences in my past. I am grateful that I am aware of this and I hope it helps...

    An easy way out of participation in the human experience is to turn away from vulnerability which means turning away from the love that is available to all of us. Fearing vulnerability, I create a mental prison where I feel safe but end up isolated from the good that is outside of me. I want to integrate into the human experience, but it is up to me to deconstruct the wall that is built from the anxiety and hurtful experiences in my past. I am grateful that I am aware of this and I hope it helps me to heal. I know that I need others to help me to grow in my conscious experience. This is what is inspiring me in the present. So thank you for reading.

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    • hans

      James, I know that prison you speak of so well, I have built my own. May love and gratitude dissolve those walls and allow us to learn and grow from hurts in the past. Imagine the captive power of the mental jail be utilized for healing and creating peace!

  • Kristi

    Thank you to any of you who are here after receiving our practice email this morning with the incorrect link! A sure opportunity for all of us to respond creatively to unexpected situations. Life will offer these every day, and it is always a deep learning for me to expand my sense of possibility at these times, rather than constrict. Not easy, but worth it. Creative adaptation and resilience in the face of life’s unpredictability – powerful grateful living practices as we navigate life.

    • reality

      Et moi, aussi. As a cat on his ninth life, it’s not as easy to land on my feet; I hear you. Thanx for all you do. Have a great eve’ 🙂 reality

    • Mermy

      Kristi-when a “glitch” happens, I always smile, thank God, and say to myself, “Ya must need a ‘review’ on this thought!” Love and Thanks for alllll the wonderful doings at Gratefulness.org!

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