Sabbath Thought: Gratitude

Psalm16:5,11 

Lord . . .

The land you have given me is a pleasant land.
      What a wonderful inheritance!

. . .

You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence. 

Mindful

                    by Mary Oliver

Every day

I see or hear

something

that more or less

kills me

with delight,

that leaves me

like a needle

in the haystack

of light.

It was what I was born for -

to look, to listen,

to lose myself

inside this soft world -

to instruct myself

over and over

in joy,

and acclamation.

Nor am I talking

about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,

the very extravagant -

but of the ordinary,

the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.

Oh, good scholar,

I say to myself,

how can you help

but grow wise

with such teachings

as these -

the untrimmable light

of the world,

the ocean's shine,

the prayers that are made

out of grass?

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony.

                                   -William Henry Channing, 1810 - 1884

There are joys which long to be ours.

God sends ten thousands truths,

which come about us like birds seeking inlet;

but we are shut up to them,

and so they bring us nothing,

but sit and sing awhile upon the roof,

and then fly away.

                                        ~Henry Ward Beecher

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