Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from You.”

In a coffee shop in San Francisco (Where else? By now you know me.) I had exchanged a few words with people nearby. Something I said prompted the question: “What is the secret of life?” A broad and ambiguous question. With minimum pondering I answered, “Gratitude”. She took it seriously and thanked me. I took the question to be about how we should face life in a way that offers guidance and joy. Later, and the more I thought about it, the more I trusted my response.

There are many entries in the game of dividing the human race into two groups. Here’s my division. One, those who feel that everything they have, and much more, is deserved, really owed to them. Two, those who believe that everything from life itself and much else is a gift, impossible to be deserved. Included in this is the love – and hope – that God shows us in Jesus Christ. Beyond that, each of us has his/her own list: parents, love, health, grandchildren, work, doctors and nurses, etc.

Later, I mentioned this question to nondenominational friends. Simultaneously the two of them came back with “gratitude”. (I know I have dwelt on this in other reflections. Some days I, and possibly you, need a reminder!) While we hope that most of us do not constantly face issues that make us question gratitude, still . . . We can’t in conscience preach gratitude to many of our brothers and sisters who lack nearly everything we think necessary.

However, as observation tell us so frequently, the poor and disadvantaged in any way, are often the most grateful–-to the shame of us comfortable complainers. Let’s stick with gratitude and not be reluctant to reflect on it–-even daily!

“I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought, and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder." --G.K. Chesterton

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

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