Holy Ordinary

“The moment one gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magnificent world in itself.” — Henry Miller

“Can you see the holiness in those things you take for granted–a paved road or a washing machine? If you concentrate on finding what is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” — Rabbi Harold Kushner

It’s been a dry desert-like summer. Two mornings waking to soaking rain is sweet music. It is greening up the grass, softening the earth, clearing the smoky air from fires in Canada. We appreciate and value things more when they are absent. Gratitude invites us to live life in “real-time” when we are in the midst of it, not in memory.

“Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend… when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present — love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure — the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.” –Sarah Ban Breathnach

Daily gratitude brings our blessings that we take for granted or pass by looking for the next thing to the forefront, center stage. Don’t just count your blessings, experience them fully in the moment. Commit to a daily gratitude practice and begin the adventure of abundance, ease and joy. Saying “thank you” throughout this day is a good start.

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach