Rev. Lori: “Gratitude begins and ends with Love.”
This reflection was originally published in the previous week’s Friday Flyer.
Good Morning, Good People!
Many know from the introduction of me on the website that the core of my theology is Love. Love is perhaps how I even name what people name G-d. For me it is the reason of existence and purpose of existence. In Christian terms it is for me why and how G-d birthed a universe and how religion evolved through truth and story to care for creation. So often in my personal life and for my work at the church I begin with the question, “What would love have me do in this situations?” Applying that theology to the theme of gratitude, I land at this reflection: Gratitude begins and ends with love. When we feel thankful, it’s because we recognize the love that flows through our lives—love given and received in countless forms. Every act of kindness, every moment of connection, every breath of beauty is love expressing itself, reminding us that we belong to one another and to this world. To live with gratitude is to let love be our center, to notice its presence even in struggle, and to let it call us toward generosity, compassion, and joy.
Of course there is always conflict and struggle. Our Buddhist teachers remind us that there is always suffering. I know we all feel that. But love is always a choice in navigating struggle. It is a choice. Practicing gratitude is a way of creating loving response and creating love in the world. I invite you to think about and apply that statement somewhere in your life right now. “What would love have me do in (this) circumstance?” It is often not the happy happy choice or decision. It can often be a tough decision. Truth in love, speaking truth to power, setting personal boundaries are all loving responses to suffering.
I invite you to call to mind a challenging issue for you right now, Say out loud and in your mind, “What would love call me to do about …..?” Ask yourself that question 3 times and then sit in silence and allow space. Pay attention to what comes to mind in that silence. Reflect on that/those answers in your head or in a journal. If nothing comes to mind, carry this exercise into the day and perhaps do it again later. Your soul will inform you as you carry the question with you!
Rev Lori Whittemore
(she, her, hers)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Saco Biddeford