Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Blessing Practices


Last week I wrote my weekly article for the conference e-newsletter.  I talked about blessings.  I was looking for blessing practices.

Here are a few of the suggestions I received:
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kept a journal for a few months a few years ago jotting down where I
saw God throughout my day. But, alas, I soon got distracted by life
and raising four children that I began neglecting the 'holy habit'. I
have found that when I partner with someone or a group that I have
much more 'stick-to-it-tiveness'.
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There was a time when I was quite depressed and I started a gratitude journal and I couldn't believe how much my mindset changed after a month.  I wrote 5 things that I was grateful for each day == sometimes I had a hard time coming up with things, so I'd write even the most insignificant like the color green, or toilet paper.  After 30 days, I started to feel better and realized that I was looking at the world more positively.  The power of positive thinking!
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I agree that it is very easy to see the glass half empty.  Especially in these hard times for mainstream churches.  Last November I was contemplating what I had to be thankful for and ended up posting something large and small every day on my facebook page.  I was amazed and gratified by the number of things I could count as blessings.  I have always thought it would be a good idea to keep a written journal but have never followed through.  The facebook posting actually gave me feedback from friends and family which was an incentive to think about the many small things that I have been given that I take for granted.  Any way that works is a good way to pass along that fullness that we are so richly blessed with.  I would be happy to be part of a greater body of thankfulness.  Let me know what others report works for them.

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One of my favorite ways of listing my gratitudes is by using the alphabet, each letter in turn.  It's a great way to add some variety and structure.  I use my ABCs when I wake up in the middle of the night and can't go back to sleep.  The gratitude list works every time.

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For years I have engaged the ancient practice of examen, which is the last thing that I do each night. You are probably familiar with it. My practice is quite simple. I ask myself two questions, in this order, and framed in attitude of gratitude and blessing:

1. For what am I least grateful today?
2. For what am I most grateful today?

Then I give back to God the gift of the day. This follows Paul's challenge in I Thessalonians, "in everything give thanks." It is a good way to count blessings and I fall asleep in a very positive mode.  It's very simple and short, but as I said, I've practiced it for many years.
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Blessings to all,  Leila