Adam is a smarty-pants philosophy professor. I like talking with him about envisioning where education will stretch when people are less willing to pay exorbitant tuition bills. Will he reframe the study of philosophy as useful to the masses? He endeavors to do so, and I support him; I don't see the American University system succeeding in a few decades. Too expensive, too wasteful. But Adam, that man is innovative and ethical and athletic and profound and all-around-fantastic. He's making a difference in this world!
Amber is an attentive mother, wife, massage therapist, churchgoer, citizen. She was the matron-of-honor in my recent wedding, and I the maid-of-honor in her wedding when we were all much younger and sillier. As we've grown, she and I have committed ourselves to our friendship with one another.
Their beautiful daughter Mary Grace is my Godchild, or goddess-child. She is only two years old, but she's already just fascinating. She makes her own jokes and shares and explores and includes people and declares her boundaries and expresses gratitude and dances wildly. While in Texas, I wanted to bring Gracie to a beautiful space in which to pray/sing/explore. Thanksgiving Square in Dallas is just the place!
A few words about a practice of gratitude: In my spiritual life, I have noticed my tendency to focus on the negatives. I don't know why, exactly (all human nature? vestiges of Catholic unworthiness or chemical depression?) but I am now adequately convinced that negativity is not productive or helpful. In around 2006 I was introduced to a movement called "Go Gratitude" which provided a way to counteract my habit of negativity. Now before every meal, Nick and I pause to reflect upon the things we should be grateful for: the cows or chickens or fish who sacrificed milk/embryos/lives for our sustenance. The colorful and delicious vegetables who feed us, and the farmers who contributed to their growth. The little successes we experienced today. The hopes for tomorrow. The sturdy roof over our heads. The ways we help eachother... I like this daily "prayer" because, even when sharing it with dinner guests, everyone can participate whether atheist or theist. Not only is the prayer inclusive, but it really raises the spirits. Pausing to reflect on gratitude has changed my overall perspective of the day. Similarly, Adam and Amber's family pause before each meal to ask, "What was your favorite thing today?" It's a celebration!
Gratitude is inclusive of all theologies and practiced in all cultures. The feeling of gratitude does not necessitate the belief in a god, or being a chosen people, or determination, or even luck. The reason for or source of our blessings does not matter as much as our acknowledgement of gratitude for the existence of the wonderful in our lives. Eight countries have an official Thanksgiving holiday. Many more celebrate harvest festivals. Marriage and baby-naming ceremonies are also celebrations of gratitude for love in connection. It's all around us!
Back to Texas. I really wanted go them someplace spiritually significant. Whenever I visit, Amber and I usually take some mini-pilgrimage to a church or labyrinth or sacred site. It was important to me to find a place where Gracie could be a part of the circle. The Thanksgiving Chapel in Dallas was designed to celebrate the spirit of gratitude.
The awe-inspiring 'glory window' in Thanksgiving Chapel was the best part of Thanksgiving Square. "The Glory Window, which forms the 60-foot-high ceiling of the Chapel of Thanksgiving, is one of the largest horizontally mounted stained-glass pieces in the world. Designed by French artist Gabriel Loire, the window symbolizes the blessing of the Divine descending to earth as well as the ascent of human praise and gratitude to God." (Or, if you don't know God, call it the Spirit of Life, or Luck, or whatever it is!)
We lay down on the floor of the chapel to really take it all in.
Absolutely awe-inspring. Click on the photo to see it even bigger. Then go visit, or better yet, build a practice of gratitude in your own blessed life.
Surely goodness and kindness shall follow us all the days of our lives, and we shall live in the house of Love.
