Gratitude and Generosity

I am writing this as I prepare for sabbatical, knowing you will be reading it several weeks from now. First, thank you. Thank you for believing in the mission of this church, for being companions together on this journey with Jesus, and for being a reminder of the love of God to all you encounter in the world each day. Thank you for this time of sabbatical. I am grateful for you, for this place, and for the ways God’s dream is continuing to be revealed in the midst of us. 

Gratitude.

Put “gratitude” into your web browser and you will get a fascinating range of information from psychologists, religious leaders of all faiths, and everyday people who have experienced gratitude changing their life. 

As Christians, however, gratitude is more than just a key to happiness, it’s a spiritual discipline. Gratitude is rooted in the belief that everything good that happens around us is generated out of God’s love for us, that everything we have comes from God, and that recognizing God’s generosity is an antidote to the messages of scarcity and fear that press upon us. 

It is so easy to forget that we were made by a loving God to be signs of love in a broken and hurting world. It is easy to be caught up in the tasks and busy-ness of our days. It is easy to get lost and fooled into thinking there isn’t enough to share. 

I know that I have caught myself in the middle of all these things. Several years ago, I put a daily reminder in my phone to name three things I am grateful for. When I do that work, it makes a difference in how I see the world. I am grateful for that message that calls me back and I am grateful for this time of sabbatical. Time to listen deeply to the still small voice of God beckoning me back, reminding me of the gift of life and all that God has given, reminding me that we were created to be enough, we are enough, and we have enough for everyone.

I am also grateful for the leaders at All Saints’ who have created this process for you to reflect on the blessings of our life together and offer gratitude for all that God is doing in this place. Beginning with slowing down and noticing the blessings of each day, you are invited to pause, reflect, and give thanks, to re-center on gratitude for the good things God is doing in this congregation. 

Each week there will be a reflection on an aspect of our common life together. As well, there will be an activity to refocus and deepen your experience of gratitude and remind you to respond to the blessings of God with gratitude. Then, you will have an opportunity to consider what is giving life, what needs attention, and what we may need to let go of to create space, time, and energy for God to do something new in this place. 

On All Saints’ Day, we will join together to celebrate, to give thanks to God and to one another for all of the beautiful and wonderful things we have experienced, and for the good things that God is calling us to do.

I am so excited to see what will come of this time for each of us and for all of us.  I look forward to celebrating all we have learned.

Blessings,
Nancy+