The Messenger - I Am A Sanctuary: Gratitude

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Sunday, 07 September 2008

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I Am A Sanctuary: Gratitude

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Written by Rev Kris Collins

We forget we attract
our perfect teachers,
particularly when they
don’t act nice, but get
our attention
through pain.

“The energy of gratitude in our lives draws more and more of the things we desire to us, almost by magic.”
––Marcia Perkins-Reed

Our Spiritual Pilgrimage is coming to completion for the time. However, as we have gathered the wisdom, insights and lessons from our journey, we have come to realize the pilgrimage is simply a metaphor for how we walk our lives.

Blessing Life: By simply speaking a word of blessing for what is present right now in our lives, we set the great reciprocal Law of the Universe into effect, and our thanks is followed by God’s giving. When he raised Lazarus, Jesus started his prayer by saying, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. I know that you always hear me...” This is the nature of the ever present Spirit.

It hears and responds to every word we say and every action we do, answering us as we believe.

By cultivating an attitude of gratitude, we open the flow of Life and Good. As we are willing to know our connection with God and focus on the truth of this awareness, we are set free of limitation and lack in every area of our lives. It is our personal realization of our connection with God that transforms our consciousness and, thereby, creates changed effects in our lives.

We may not be at the stage of awareness where we are always conscious of this connection with God. We may forget about it when something happens we judge as wrong. We forget our lives are formed by our beliefs and perceptions. We forget we attract our perfect teachers, particularly when they don’t act nice, but get our attention through pain. When we give thanks in all things, we reestablish our conscious connection with God, calling forth new ways of being.

We know intellectually that God is the Source and God is Abundance, however, most of the time we act as if this were not true. There are four main aspects of the Law of Abundance. The first is Blessing, which we have acknowledged.

Giving to Life: The second is Giving. We must be willing to acknowledge our connection with the giving nature of God. We do this by using the gifts we have received––we express them in society as service. If we are afraid to give, because we believe we will be left without, what does that tell us about our own belief in lack and limitation? Giving is important because it proves that we have something worthwhile to give.

The attitude in which we serve life is important. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen wrote, “As a young doctor, I thought serving life was a thing of drama and action... But I know now this is only the least part of the nature of service, for service is small and quiet and everywhere.”

Far more often we serve by who we are and not what we know. And everyone serves whether they know it or not. Many simple, ordinary things we do can affect those around us in profound ways: the unexpected phone call, the brief touch, the willingness to listen generously, the warm smile. We can even bless total strangers and be blessed by them.”

Joan Gattuso writes, “There are many levels of giving. We give of ourselves through our willingness to listen or pay attention to others, we give with a kind word or note or letter, we give by volunteering our time or talent, we give by sharing our wealth with our church or temple, the arts, or another cause dear to our hearts. We give each time we are generous or gracious...When we move into more conscious levels of living, we become aware of an actual need to give. In all of our giving, I believe we must give money. Nothing starts bringing up and clearing out our money issues like giving it away.”

By consistently giving we assert, in a way we notice, that we are putting God first in our lives. We are releasing our fears of not having or being enough and acknowledge that God is our Source.

Receiving our Good: The third aspect of Abundance is Receiving. It is as important to be a gracious receiver, as it is to be a generous giver. Notice how you respond the next time someone gives you a compliment. Were you gracious or did you reject or decrease the compliment? A compliment or gift may open us to our beliefs about ourselves and reveal where we feel undeserving, vulnerable or weak. Begin to say “Yes!” and “Thank you!” Give thanks to God for using your friend and supporter as a conduit to bring your good to you.

Accepting our Good: Accepting is the fourth aspect of the Abundance Law. To receive a gift you must accept it. God has given us each unique gifts. When we acknowledge them as ours and bring them to life, we have accepted the gift.

Illuminated Blessings: Dr. Remen wrote, “A blessing is not something one person gives another. A blessing is a moment of meeting, a certain kind of relationship in which both people involved remember and acknowledge their true nature and worth, and strengthen what is whole in one another. By making a place for wholeness within our relationships, we offer others the opportunity to be whole and become a place of refuge from everything in them and around them that is not genuine. We enable people to remember who they are.”

A blessing is a form of prayer. Meister Eckhard wrote, “If the only prayer you ever pray is one of thanksgiving, it will be enough.” It is through our illuminated blessings that we become the sanctuary for the Divine. We energize the Divine Light and express it into the world. Collectively, we can make a difference and create the world we desire to live in and pass on to future generations.

Pilgrimage: Gratitude

Gratitude: In all things give thanks. Remember to say “Yes!” and “Thank you!” with enthusiasm to compliments and gifts this week. Remember all people, places, things, and situations are gifts to you. Give a special word of thanks each day for some special spiritual gift you have within you.

Prayer: Pray daily. Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote, “More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. . .”

Awareness: Be aware of the conversation in your head regarding giving and receiving. What are your true beliefs about the abundant nature of God?

Imagine: The world you want to live in and pass on.

Action: Give compliments, attention and love to others. Acknowledge your connection with God by receiving and giving your gifts to the world.

There is a story about the Canadian Geese. When they fly in formation they are using the One Mind of God to guide, direct and to sustain them in the migration flight. The lead goose is encouraged by the honking of the ones that follow her. As she tires and drops back in the formation, the next one moves forward to take the lead, as the last leader moves into the rear of the formation to be carried by the drag of the wind which is created from the other birds. If one goose is injured, another will also drop out of the formation to stay with it as it heals, so that they will be able to journey south together. This is the meaning of our spiritual community.

REV KRIS COLLINS is Minister of Sanctuary of Spiritual Living, A Science of Mind Center
5446 North Citrus Ave • Covina, CA
626-332-6838 • www.SOMChurch.org

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