In this Musing we explore gratitude as a mystical state of being, rather than a compendium of practices. Mystics have a natural gratitude born of the experience of God as a benevolent, all-loving Creator, and of Life as a meaningful and blessed journey. And we have daily practices of expressing that gratitude in prayer and spoken appreciation. We also have silent gratitude as we stand in awe of the beauty of nature, the beauty of artistic creations, the holding of a newborn, the intimacy of being with loved ones. Some days we are aware of our blessings, some days not. Sometimes we say "thank you", some days we forget, but when we move fully into the gratitude as a state of being, there are no off days and on days--we LIVE the gratitude. This Sunday we offer suggestions (and one key "doing") of how to move into a deepening state of thanksgiving.
