Gratitude is a practice that cracks our self-protecting hearts wide open
Rev. Dr. Steven Koski
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I was watching a hockey game and the puck went flying at the glass. The fan behind the glass instinctively flinched and covered his face to protect himself. How often do I instinctively protect and defend my heart throughout the day? Having an open, generous and tender heart in this cruel world of ours is an act of courage.
Gratitude is a practice that cracks our self-protecting hearts wide open. Brother David Steins-Rast wrote, “You think this is just another day in your life? It’s not just another day. It’s the one day that is given to you today. It’s given to you. It’s a gift…Love wholeheartedly, be surprised, choose thanks and give thanks – then you will discover the fullness of your life.”
I was eating at an All-You-Can -Eat Buffet ( which I consider a personal challenge). I finished round one and was taking my plate back to the buffet for round two. The waitress stopped me, took my dirty plate and handed me a clean plate. She said hygiene rules say you can’t take your dirty plate back to the buffet. You need a clean plate. Who knew?! Every day we take our plate with resentment stuck in the cracks, left-over regrets and fear stains to the smorgasbord of a new day.
What would it look like to enter the gift of this new day with a clean plate? Receive this day, this moment, this breath as sheer gift.
When your impulse is to protect and defend your heart, keep your heart open, generous, tender and grateful.
Risk your heart on love today and be the reason someone says thank you.