Several years ago, Marlene and I hiked quite a few of the trails in Rocky Mountain National Park. It was early Summer and the trails were all still a bit soggy from the snow melt and Spring rains. On one particular hike, we did a trail with a lot of altitude. This meant multiple sets of switchbacks on muddy forest paths. The high humidity added to the “fun.”. At one point along the trail everything changed. I looked down and saw this beautiful little flower standing all by itself among the forest litter. It was only about 8 inches high, but it so delighted my soul that I stopped immediately and got out my camera. I sat down in the mud and starting taking pictures of it. I am not sure how long I was there (though I am sure Marlene would say an eternity) because I was lost in the joy of the moment. This little flower had found me and I was overflowing with gratitude.
On Friday, I drove by one of the many mega-churches in Houston and saw a sign announcing the message for Thanksgiving, “The Debt of Gratitude.” Those words brought my mind to a standstill. They troubled my soul. It is a phrase I have heard all my life, but there was something about seeing it in huge letters that caused an extended soulquake. All day I tried to sort out my feelings about this little phrase.
A debt implies that I owe something. It is the language of commerce where “this” is exchanged for “that.” We “give” to :get.” When we “get” we are obligated to “give.” Such transactions have nothing about the joy of the human spirit freely sharing of itself. There is no grace in a feeling of indebtedness. Gratitude is not about me or my obligations. Gratitude is all about that which delights our soul.
When that little flower appeared during our exhausting hike, it filled my soul. It poured grace upon grace into my weary spirit. I was transfixed. I was the recipient of a wondrous gift, gratitude. It is a gift to be received and celebrated. It fills the soul with the energy it needs to be present to and in relationship with the world around us. It invites us to get down in the mud and crawl around as we celebrate the gift we have received. It enables us to celebrate those hard decisions we have made when the delight of the journey washes away our regrets. It allows us to lose ourselves in a moment beyond the ticks of the clock as we become part of something far greater than we could ever imagine.
Gratitude is not a debt to be repaid. True gratitude cannot be repaid. It is a pure gift, a grace beyond grace that allows us to know in our heart of hearts that we are part of a grand enterprise, life! Celebrate the gift of gratitude when it appears along the muddy paths of living.
May you and your family have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Bob and Marlene