As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend, it is helpful to take in the words of Meister Eckhart, the great 13th century German mystic who noted, "If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is 'thank you,' it will be enough."
When we are thankful, we engage in a sacred practice that enlivens our spirits, helps us see from a wider perspective, opens our hearts and fills us with awe and wonder. We are more appreciative of what we do have instead of giving our attention to what we don't have in our lives and in our world.
The Sufis offer us this prayer of gratitude that we can use every day of our lives and not just at Thanksgiving:
The only secret of happiness ... is to keep our eyes open to appreciate every little privilege, to admire every glimpse of beauty, for every little love, kindness, or affection shown to us by young or old, rich or poor, wise or foolish. In this way, continually developing the faculty of appreciating life and devoting it to thanksgiving, we arrive at a bliss which no words can explain, a bliss which is beyond imagination: the bliss that we find ourselves having already entered the kingdom of God.
Have a happy and glorious Thanksgiving,
James
P.S. Did you know Tuesday, November 29 is #GivingTuesday? SLC's Youth of Unity (YOU) are participating in this annual global day of giving! They created the video below to raise funds to help SLC provide youth education activities and a safe space to explore spiritual principles. Please share this video with your family and friends on social media, and help our youth get the word out! You don't have to wait until Tuesday to donate to their campaign. You can contribute any time at this link. Our teens and I thank you for your support.