I just completed a Bosque Center for Spiritual Living “Prospering Together” newsletter to celebrate the first nine months of our operation, and to kick off our first annual pledge campaign.  [If you don’t receive one of these pretty flyers in the mail in the next few days, it’s probably because I don’t have your address; just let me know and I’ll make sure to get one out to you!] 

As I was listing our accomplishments, describing everything that we’ve created together, I was touched — no, more like dazzled — over and over by a deep sense of gratitude.  Over this really fast year, at times flying on sheer intuition by what felt like the seat of our pants, we’ve built a community rich in programs and events, service and outreach, personal transformation and global vision.  I’m proud of you, me, and us! 

We’re going to be looking at prosperity, plenty, abundance, and affluence — including money and everything else these words contain — throughout the entire month of October.  And gratitude seems an absolutely perfect place to start.   Meister Eckhart pointed out that “thank you,” all on its own, is a complete prayer. 

I’ve been contemplating that idea — thanksgiving as sufficient all on its own:  thank heavens, thank goodness, thank you.   It sounds complete to me.  Maybe we don’t even need to describe or define what we’re thankful for; just let it be “thanks!”  Maybe not narrowing it down to this or that allows it to be thanks for everything. 

I think this has something to do with the fact that if we let it, an unfettered expression of gratitude can grace us instantly into a relationship of harmony with just about anything and everything.  We can make peace with all that has come before.  We can open our hearts to all that we wish to experience and create going forward.  And we can be find contentment in the present.

Typically, when we say “thank heavens” we’re invoking an appreciation for something that has already happened.  Or, more often, for something that didn’t happen, as an expression of relief:  “thank heavens you’re okay!  thank heavens we made it!  thank heavens for small mercies!’”  That’s all well and good.  But what if we also approached it as a creative declaration?  Generating heaven by giving thanks for it in advance.  With gratitude, claiming our own creative authority.  With gratitude, speaking heavens into existence. 

Thank heavens we are.  Thank heavens on earth.  And so it is.  XO, Drew

© 2018 Drew Groves