Gratitude
18/06/14 07:41
At our son and daughter-in-law’s house the table grace routine is for each person to name things for which they are thankful. It is a very moving ritual for me. I am incredibly fortunate and there is no shortage of things for which I am grateful. Because we live in two different states, our time together is limited. We are lucky to live in the era of computers and video conferencing, but there is no substitute for being together face to face. Yesterday was my first opportunity to hold our new granddaughter in my own arms. There is nothing like that feeling. No matter how often I get to hold babies at the church and in other areas of my life, the experience never gets old. And with a grandchild, I can linger. I spent a fair amount of time yesterday just holding Emmala while she was sleeping. The warm little body cuddled on my chest is such a miracle that I sit there in amazement watching the smallest of movements and listening to her tiny sounds.
Our grandson is delightful. We played with a toy digger in the yard and explored some of the new toys that we had brought in our camper. We played with his trains in the evening and he made up a running narrative, telling a story about the trains as we pushed them around the tracks.
Perhaps the greatest delight of visiting our kids is seeing what a wonderful family they are building. They have formed a very good partnership that is adjusting to the new member of the family well. Watching our son in his role as father is a joy beyond description.
There is much for which to be grateful.
Vacation means changing our schedule and shifting some of our routines. We have a wonderful life when we are at home and it isn’t like I need to get out of some kind of rut, but it is fun to sleep until the daylight wakes me and not worry about chasing the clock in the same way that I do when we are at home. Our camper gives us our own space and we have plenty of luxuries in this camper that we didn’t have in our previous one. We are parked in a grove of cedar and Douglas firs that is quiet and filled with birds. It is really nice the way that the trees deaden the sounds of the world. We are only about a mile from a major Interstate highway, but the place where we are camping is lovely and quiet. It seems to be an island of nature in the midst of a region of urban sprawl and development.
As we drove in from Tacoma to Olympia yesterday I was reminded how the Pacific northwest has become continual city along the eastern shores of the Puget Sound. From Bellingham to Olympia the highway is six lanes of continual urban traffic. The land is expensive and filled with all kinds of commercial development. People out here don’t speak in terms of miles when they are talking about taking a trip. They speak in terms of time. Seattle-Tacoma Airport is less than 55 miles from their home. Portland (OR) International is over 100 miles. But they see them as being about the same in terms of the time and hassle of travel. On the other hand, we think very little of taking a trip of 400 or 500 miles for a one or two day meeting. They think in terms of flying to most destinations that are farther away than the airport. It is a different way of life and most of the people in the world live in urban areas.
While I love to visit this part of the world, it gives me appreciation for the place where I do live. I like the open spaces and relaxed driving that characterized most of our trip. I can drive in city traffic and am willing to do so when necessary, but I prefer open country and wide spaces.
The good thing about the next few days is that they are focused on being, not on doing. Of course there is no small amount of work in a busy and growing family. We can help provide care for the children, assist with meals and even do a few repairs around the house. But mostly our role as grandparents is as supporters of the busy and exciting life of our children and grandchildren. The accept and love us for who we are and allow us to just be. It is another thing to add to the list of things I’m thankful for.
A big black bird is raising a ruckus outside of the camper as I write. I’m not the best at identifying birds, but I think it is a raven - it seems too big to be a crow. The raven is a key character in the stories of the indigenous people of this region, just like the coyote is a big player in the stories of the plains. In the stories of the Haida, Raven is not just a trickster and complex character, he is also a reflection of the people that he sees. The stories teach about how to live a good life and have respect for others with whom we share the world. Most of the time Raven teaches humans by showing them what not to do, so I’m not giving too much stock to this morning’s raven, but it is another reminder that there is so much in this world for which I am grateful.
I think our children have got it right. Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday or a season - it is a meaningful activity for every day. Pausing at mealtime to offer thanks is more than a meaningful ritual of repetition and practicing faith - it is a way of reminding ourselves that we are constantly showered with blessings. There are reasons to give thanks every day.
Our grandson is delightful. We played with a toy digger in the yard and explored some of the new toys that we had brought in our camper. We played with his trains in the evening and he made up a running narrative, telling a story about the trains as we pushed them around the tracks.
Perhaps the greatest delight of visiting our kids is seeing what a wonderful family they are building. They have formed a very good partnership that is adjusting to the new member of the family well. Watching our son in his role as father is a joy beyond description.
There is much for which to be grateful.
Vacation means changing our schedule and shifting some of our routines. We have a wonderful life when we are at home and it isn’t like I need to get out of some kind of rut, but it is fun to sleep until the daylight wakes me and not worry about chasing the clock in the same way that I do when we are at home. Our camper gives us our own space and we have plenty of luxuries in this camper that we didn’t have in our previous one. We are parked in a grove of cedar and Douglas firs that is quiet and filled with birds. It is really nice the way that the trees deaden the sounds of the world. We are only about a mile from a major Interstate highway, but the place where we are camping is lovely and quiet. It seems to be an island of nature in the midst of a region of urban sprawl and development.
As we drove in from Tacoma to Olympia yesterday I was reminded how the Pacific northwest has become continual city along the eastern shores of the Puget Sound. From Bellingham to Olympia the highway is six lanes of continual urban traffic. The land is expensive and filled with all kinds of commercial development. People out here don’t speak in terms of miles when they are talking about taking a trip. They speak in terms of time. Seattle-Tacoma Airport is less than 55 miles from their home. Portland (OR) International is over 100 miles. But they see them as being about the same in terms of the time and hassle of travel. On the other hand, we think very little of taking a trip of 400 or 500 miles for a one or two day meeting. They think in terms of flying to most destinations that are farther away than the airport. It is a different way of life and most of the people in the world live in urban areas.
While I love to visit this part of the world, it gives me appreciation for the place where I do live. I like the open spaces and relaxed driving that characterized most of our trip. I can drive in city traffic and am willing to do so when necessary, but I prefer open country and wide spaces.
The good thing about the next few days is that they are focused on being, not on doing. Of course there is no small amount of work in a busy and growing family. We can help provide care for the children, assist with meals and even do a few repairs around the house. But mostly our role as grandparents is as supporters of the busy and exciting life of our children and grandchildren. The accept and love us for who we are and allow us to just be. It is another thing to add to the list of things I’m thankful for.
A big black bird is raising a ruckus outside of the camper as I write. I’m not the best at identifying birds, but I think it is a raven - it seems too big to be a crow. The raven is a key character in the stories of the indigenous people of this region, just like the coyote is a big player in the stories of the plains. In the stories of the Haida, Raven is not just a trickster and complex character, he is also a reflection of the people that he sees. The stories teach about how to live a good life and have respect for others with whom we share the world. Most of the time Raven teaches humans by showing them what not to do, so I’m not giving too much stock to this morning’s raven, but it is another reminder that there is so much in this world for which I am grateful.
I think our children have got it right. Thanksgiving isn’t just a holiday or a season - it is a meaningful activity for every day. Pausing at mealtime to offer thanks is more than a meaningful ritual of repetition and practicing faith - it is a way of reminding ourselves that we are constantly showered with blessings. There are reasons to give thanks every day.