“Gratefulness is not a feeling; it’s a practice.”
Gratitude &/or Generosity?
The recently adopted statement of Unitarian Universalist shared values lists love, interdependence, pluralism, justice, transformation, generosity and equity. There was an effort at the nationwide meeting of Unitarian Universalists last June to add “gratitude” to the list. When I first read the proposed values statement, I had the same reaction. How could gratitude not be listed?!!
The vice-chair of the national team that put forth the values, the Rev. Cheryl M. Walker, explained it like this: If I am merely grateful for what I have and I’m not in turn generous- with my time, talents, finances, and love- then gratitude is simply an exercise in individualism. But if one’s gratitude leads to generosity- extending one’s values to the world- then it becomes an exercise in community.
What if Thanksgiving was approached as a ritual promoting gratitude and generosity equally? And by generosity, I don’t mean just to one’s friends and family. What about generosity toward the earth, animals, other human beings?
It is so indicative of U.S. culture that the day after Thanksgiving is Black Friday, followed by Cyber Monday, and only then do we get to “Giving Tuesday”. I’m curious about what it might be like to have non-judgmental conversations at the Thanksgiving table not only about gratitude but about the generosity we’ve received and wish to pay forward. Let me know if you have such a conversation!
In the days ahead, I know some of you may be traveling, some cooking, some may be attending the Indigenous National Day of Mourning rituals in Plymouth, and some will be clearing out old books, baking cookies, buying wine, and checking out the online auction items for the Red Bow Fair. We, too, will encourage folks to jump on the shopping bandwagon for just one day, Dec. 6th! But then we’ll return to making space for silence, simplicity, companionship, courage, meditation and music as we enter the darkest time of the year in the Northern hemisphere.
Hope to see you this Sunday. We’re bringing back the bread “communion”- germ-free!
Rev. Lee