You used to practice grammar, arithmetic, and algebra. Practice is probably something you think you’re done with when you leave school or give up music lessons. Have you ever thought of practicing the art of gratitude? There is, indeed, an art to gratefulness. Brother David Steindl-Rast expressed it as a “GREAT-FULLNESS. Every single thing we have has been given to us, not necessarily because we deserved it, but gratuitously, for no known reason. And whatever source we believe is the giver – some concept of God or simply the breathtaking randomness of the universe – when we give thanks, we take our place in the great wheel of life, recognizing our connection to one another and to all of creation

Our English language allows us to take words apart to their basics. Change the spelling a little – and you have a new term: Great (spelled G-R-E-A-T ) GREAT-FULLNESS. I expect many of you know how this feels physically, since we are just past the annual event of overindulgence. We celebrate Thanksgiving every year. Now consider the words separately:

CELEBRATE THANKS – GIVING

When people are full of gratitude, they feel satisfaction, notice blessings, and want to actively express praise or give back to others. Cultivating a sense of awe, as in the awesomeness of a sky full of stars, doesn’t sound so different from daily life if we think of it in the term the comedienne, Lily Tomlin, coined. She suggested practicing “awe-robics” for our minds and hearts at least as often as we exercise our muscles and other talents. . To do this you can approach the ordinary miracles of life with mindfulness. Clean water pouring from the faucet can stretch you awe-robic-ly. Even criticism can be a source of “strength-training” if we consider Leschetizsky’s words: “We learn much from the disagreeable things people say, for they make us think; whereas the good things only make us glad.” When all else fails, try exercising your facial muscles with laughter, or at least a wry grin, instead of a frown when you’ve just about “had it”!

Thank - full - ness is a constructive state, the attitude of the person who sees a glass half-full rather than half-empty. Research has proved that optimists tend to be more realistic than pessimists because they have an attitude of being able to overcome obstacles. Yes! – This is real research! If you like the idea of being in control, practicing constructive gratitude is one way to get there! It does, however, follow the Eastern path of the “road less traveled” since you gain control of yourself by giving up the need to control others!

If you tend to see the world in a negative perspective, you will really have to work to develop your awe-muscles! People without a sense of gratitude see problems instead of potential solutions, defects rather than respect, and danger instead of “growth opportunities.”.. The view of the “half-empty glass” is no more realistic than its opposite. However, it IS more destructive -- both physically and interpersonally. Robert Mabry Doss put it well: “Despair is a door to pass through, not a home for living in.”

I’ve asked many people lately what comes to mind when I say the word “gratitude?” I’m going to pause here and let you think of your own answer before I tell you the results of my limited survey. What comes to your mind when I say ‘GRATITUDE?”…

(pause 15-20 seconds)

Keep this thought in mind for later.

I’ve gotten many replies that have been similar – people list family, friends, nature, and health as things they are grateful for. One friend said “I think of the spiritual” even though she thought it sounded “hokey.” Another found gratitude to be a person to person feeling --the goodness between humans that is strictly down to earth. Another, going through a rough time, could find the hope that things would get better as one of the few reasons to get out of bed in the morning .

The majority did not mention where they direct their gratitude and only expanded on it when asked. Marcia Falk, the editor of a book on modern Jewish blessings, suggested thinking of the divinity as the source of life – a wellspring or a fountain. This morning on my way here I found myself changing my rote-learned “Thank you, Lord” to “Thank you, Spirit of Life.” For the non-deists among you, mindfulness toward simple things: food that nourishes, eyes that open, friends and family who see and love us for who we really are - might be the “down to earth” way to express gratitude.

But almost everyone felt grateful for something more than once a week. Sometimes it was a feeling that just welled up inside. Sometimes it was in response to a life circumstance. I did not think to ask how these people put their gratitude into practice. So I’m asking you to think about it now.

In our hunger and emptiness, we used to pause before a meal and thank some great spirit for bringing us food and water, for bringing us life and family.

In her book, A Grateful Heart, editor M. J. Ryan has collected blessing from the Buddha to the Beatles. However, she points out: we live in a fast-food world. and I have never seen anyone pausing over a Big-Mac to offer thanks.!! We’re here to consider changing all that!

Whenever I think of gratitude, I remember the Thanksgiving message Rev. David shared with us many years ago and also included in his book.

Emily was then a 3-year old zealot, as he called her. She used to take their hands before the evening meal and say, “Praise, PRAISE!!” Then each person around the table would list at least one thing he or she was thankful for that day. It may not have been profound but it was a daily reminder to praise:. I hope Emily continues to share this “attitude of gratitude!”

The busy-ness of the evening meal time may not be the best time for you or your family to practice gratitude. There could be other times of day – as we put the children to bed, before we fall asleep ourselves, I n the few moments before we throw the covers off and rush into morning.

Dawn is a good time to consider the following prayer paraphrased from Ann Landers “This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for some good purpose. But what I do this day is important because I have exchanged a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. I hope I will not regret the price I paid for it.”

Dusk may be the time for those of you presently surviving life “one day at a time.” To quote Tennessee Williams: “ When your candle burns low, you’ve got to believe that the last light shows you something besides the progress of darkness.”