As we pinball through the holiday season I stop for a moment today at Halloween to consider the fast roll of Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year that is about to begin. These hyper-commercialized dates will see us bankrupt ourselves to squeeze some pleasure from the events…to enrich our lives. Thanksgiving is the next bumper we will hit and it suggests that we should take stock of exactly what we are grateful for. The sentiments of the Hallmark card are at the surface. We are certainly grateful for birdsong, sunsets, and our health but deeper things suggest themselves.
Emerson’s quote comes to mind : ” I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends.” This morning-and every morning- I feel the same. My friends have taught me how to work, how to grieve and how to laugh. Without my friends I would not have survived.Moreover, I would not have a sense of spirituality without the instruction and the example they have given. he spiritual way is not a theory but a practice and my friends have given me so many occasions to practice forgiveness, acceptance and empathy. At the core of their teaching is the most important lesson of all …the importance of gratitude. Thanksgiving indeed.
I sometimes look at my life as a journey that takes m e to many places and my friends as the places I have sought shelter on the trip. WhenI rest comfortably in their caring and wisdom I think of one of my favorite Yogi Berra quips, ” That place was so great . The towels were so fluffy, I could barely close my suitcase.” They have filed me up.
So I am about to carom into the Thanksgiving season with my dear ones at top of mind. Thank them for all the fluffy towels they let me steal from them.
RIP Steve, Norm, Phil , Ted and Mark.
Olio Folio 