This week we focus on Thanksgiving and gratitude. Michael (MichaelStrassfeld.com) mjstrassfeld@gmail.com photo by Amy Shamblen
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A word of Torah:
There is a traditional phrase for acknowledging goodness: hakarat ha-tov. It is usually understood as recognizing the kind things that someone else has done for us. It emphasizes the importance of gratitude to others and by implication criticizes those who “forget” what others have done for them.
The Hebrew le-hakir literally means to recognize, as in, “I recognize you even though we haven’t seen each other in years.” I suggest that le-hakir also means awareness as it is used in contemporary spirituality. Recognition is a process of seeing clearly and acknowledging what is.
As we learned from the story of creation, God created a world of tov/good. We are meant to recognize that. Our acknowledgement of the goodness of our lives encourages us to spread goodness to others. Our purpose is not to ask God or the universe for more blessings, but to be like Abraham: a blessing to all we meet on our journey.
A "psalm" for our Thanksgiving table:
ONE HUNDRED FORTY Thanksgiving Day
How easy to praise You, Beloved One,
For abundance, for cups brim filled;
How can we not delight in Your majesty,
Your endless blessings to us.
How simple our thanks, Beloved One,
For laden tables, for gathered families,
Shoulders touching in the intimacy of the meal
You have spread before us.
Teach us to thank and bless Your name,
When cups are empty and thirst is great;
Put our hands together to replenish,
Finding blessing in tiny sips.
Beloved One, to thank and bless You,
We find hope in uncertainty
And triumph in shaky steps.
We recreate abundance for Your sake.
Debbie Perlman, Flames to Heaven: New Psalms for Healing & Praise
Intention/kavana for the week
For Thanksgiving (or for any day)
Let me remember to be grateful for this new day of life. It will not come again.
I am grateful for the people who are important in my life.
I am grateful for my ability to feel and to think.
I am grateful for my body.
May I be blessed with insights and wisdom on this day.
