Unexpected Gratitude

 For all of us around the world, my goodness, what a time it has been over these past years and what challenges we have all faced. And yet, even amidst overwhelming anxiety, care and worry, let us not forget:  there is a place of rest for us---ever-present, ever-available and untouched by any of the descriptions we could apply to it. To be able to rest in this basic space of bliss, peace and clarity for short moments many times is a blessing beyond compare. In the great natural abundance which is our birthright, we are embraced by beauty, and not only reminded of our many gifts, but brought into full appreciation of them.

   On this beautiful morning in this beautiful place, I am surrounded by the reminders of these gifts.

   So, so many things that we can't even account for which have been given to us...... A man whose head is being held underwater for minutes has forgotten everything else but breath, and once his head emerges from the forced imprisonment of the water, he breathes with delight and joy, gasping in appreciation for something that he had taken for granted for the whole of his life.

   A village woman in a war zone in the Sahara gets up early each morning to fetch water from a well six kilometers away and hopes to avoid the rape, robbery and murder that could await her along the way. Upon her safe arrival back home, she revels in the good fortune of the tenuous safety that has been provided to her on that one day. She would have difficulty imagining people whose source of water is only a few footsteps away and whose access to it is without any impediment.

  There are circumstances in which one feels trapped and limited and unhappily dictated to by the course of fate, and possibly in that circumstance cannot see the benefit. And yet, AND YET, as we look back on those same circumstances that had been labeled unfortunate or sad, we can come to feel gratitude for all that we were given---even if those gifts were hidden from us as they were being given.

  As we continue on our way and our vision becomes clearer and less distracted, we won't have to artificially create thanksgiving and fix it for a time or place. We will become closer companions with the wisdom which embraces us and the sweetness of experience unfettered by wish or expectation, and the fragrance of these blooms will be so present and evident for us that no summoning will be necessary. 

May it be so. May we rest in our essential being.