Author: clfuu

“The older I get, the more I seem to be able to appreciate my ‘neighbor’ (whomever I happen to be with at the moment). Oh, sure, I’ve always tried to love my neighbor as myself; however, the more experiences I’ve had, the more chances I’ve had to see the uniqueness of each person… as well as each tree, and plant, and shell, and cloud… the more I find myself delighting every day in the lavish gifts of God, whom I’ve come to believe is the greatest appreciator of all.”
―Fred Rogers

What have you only learned to appreciate over time?

In pretty much any religious tradition, giving is an important spiritual practice. But that spiritual practice is only available if there are those who receive, which means that gracious receiving is a parallel spiritual gift.

How do you bless others through gracious receiving?

So much of the time it feels like we are juggling, struggling to keep everything up in the air. There isn’t time or space to set everything down. But perhaps if we were able to stack things ever so carefully there could be a moment of breath, a moment of pure balance.

What helps you to find balance when things are hectic?

“I was pirouette and flourish,
I was filigree and flame.
How could I count my blessings
when I didn’t know their names?”
―Rita Dove

When have you experienced joy or gratitude that went beyond what you could name or identify?

Flowers and butterflies have of course evolved, like all beings, to maximize their chances for reproductive success—the fact that they are beautiful is merely an artifact. Unless you are enjoying their beauty, in which case it could just as well be entirely for your delight.

What beauty do you experience as a gift?