Sing with an Attitude of Gratitude
Monday, September 7th, 2009In Psalms 69:30, we read these words of David: I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. It is also written in Psalms that King David wasn’t a spectator, sitting on his throne, when it came to parades, but instead danced in the streets much to the dismay, and often the denunciation, of pompous observers. But, David could neither hide his joy nor allow it to remain unexpressed no matter how harshly anyone judged him.
Often, we forget to appreciate our life, as it is, when we’re consumed by getting more stuff. Okay, so we don’t live in a palace, and perhaps we haven’t gotten all that we would like to get in this world quite yet, but certainly there is plenty in our life for which we can feel gratitude. Several years ago, a young man, named Miguel, with whom I’d become acquainted didn’t appear to have many worldly possessions. He lived in a tiny room attached to my neighbor’s garage. He did odds job around the neighborhood during the day and at night he worked as a janitor. I heard that he sent most of his scant wages to his parents and younger siblings who lived somewhere in Mexico. Yet, I’d never seen him unhappy. He walked with joy in his step, he genuinely whistled while he worked, and there was always light in his large, brown eyes. Curious as to how he could sustain so much joy, I asked him his secret. He told me, “Any day above ground is a good day.”
Let’s face it, nothing is more precious than scarcity. Life on the planet is finite. But, we’re here now! Just being alive was reason enough for Miguel to feel gratitude. Our life is a miracle that we have not made or earned. As the saying goes, “Life is a gift, that’s why it’s called the present.” However, have we accepted the gift without saying “thank you”? Are we waiting, instead, for more…and more “stuff” before we sing our song of thanksgiving?
What good would all our possessions be if we couldn’t feel appreciation for them? And, likewise, if we were able to feel joy in being alive, whether we possessed anything at all, then our “neediness” would disappear.
The future may hold the promise of prosperity and abundant good, but we hold the gift of “the present” in our hands right now. Let the music of our hearts play a song of praise so the we may dance with the Spirit today.
