Giving and Receiving Sun, 3rd February, 2013
Today we are blessed with a blissful blanket of new fallen show. Perhaps it is a gift in honor of my mother's birthday which is today. As I am learning, it is not only blessed to give, it is important that we also learn to receive from the Earth and from each other with humble gratitude.
Giving, receiving and gratitude have been the focus for me this past week. It began with a radio news story that reminded me about the near-universal instinct in human beings to honor the rule of reciprocity: when someone gives us something, we naturally want to give something in return. The news story was about how this instinct even applies to computers and robots when they mimic human behavior. In a study, when a computer said friendly things and helped people who were using it, the people were much more likely to agree to help the computer by answering a long series of complex questions. Contrary to a popular current of American political thought that exults the virtue of self-reliance, we are in reality programmed to live in a constant state of giving and receiving.
Native Americans have never forgotten this. Their spiritual practices, to which I've been exposing myself gradually, teach us the value of giving and receiving in equal measure and giving thanks everyday for the gifts of food, shelter, love and community. My wife lent me a beautiful little book called Meditations With the Cherokee, by J.T. Garrett. It's a treasure trove of Native American spiritual practices that are opening my heart and mind to new ways of looking at the world. One story the author shares is the spiritual practice his mother taught him, which was always to leave something in return when Mother Natures gives you a special gift. It's good medicine.
Because my spirit is very open right now, I decided to try this. It so happens that I went again yesterday in the relative warm and sunny afternoon to enjoy another trail run among my friends the trees at Laumeier Sculpture Park. I had brought in my pocket a small white stone from near my house and was actually excited about the idea of leaving this small gift with the forest in gratitude for the peace and sense of wholeness (even Owl visits!) that it gives to me. In a spirit of humble gratitude, I placed the small stone at the base of the oak tree that hosts the sculpture of the Indian maiden who married the tree fairy and has become one with the forest.
Perhaps not coincidentally, last week also marked the first days I began using my Gratitude365 daily gratitude journal. I wholeheartedly recommend this simple but powerful practice of jotting down each day a few things you are grateful for. It is a perspective-shifting exercise that spills over into nearly every aspect of your life. I like the Gratitude365 app for the iPhone, because it's easy to use and I can add a picture each day, which appears on a monthly calendar.
Today's gratitudes will certainly include the gift of comforting snow and for the growing spiritual relationship with my mother. Last night before going to bed I just read a beautiful piece she had written about the comfort of snow and how all the snowflakes were like sisters holding hands to provide blessing and comfort. Then I awoke to find the sisters had come once again. A blessed and peaceful birthday to you, Mom.
Today we are blessed with a blissful blanket of new fallen show. Perhaps it is a gift in honor of my mother's birthday which is today. As I am learning, it is not only blessed to give, it is important that we also learn to receive from the Earth and from each other with humble gratitude.
Giving, receiving and gratitude have been the focus for me this past week. It began with a radio news story that reminded me about the near-universal instinct in human beings to honor the rule of reciprocity: when someone gives us something, we naturally want to give something in return. The news story was about how this instinct even applies to computers and robots when they mimic human behavior. In a study, when a computer said friendly things and helped people who were using it, the people were much more likely to agree to help the computer by answering a long series of complex questions. Contrary to a popular current of American political thought that exults the virtue of self-reliance, we are in reality programmed to live in a constant state of giving and receiving.
Native Americans have never forgotten this. Their spiritual practices, to which I've been exposing myself gradually, teach us the value of giving and receiving in equal measure and giving thanks everyday for the gifts of food, shelter, love and community. My wife lent me a beautiful little book called Meditations With the Cherokee, by J.T. Garrett. It's a treasure trove of Native American spiritual practices that are opening my heart and mind to new ways of looking at the world. One story the author shares is the spiritual practice his mother taught him, which was always to leave something in return when Mother Natures gives you a special gift. It's good medicine.
Because my spirit is very open right now, I decided to try this. It so happens that I went again yesterday in the relative warm and sunny afternoon to enjoy another trail run among my friends the trees at Laumeier Sculpture Park. I had brought in my pocket a small white stone from near my house and was actually excited about the idea of leaving this small gift with the forest in gratitude for the peace and sense of wholeness (even Owl visits!) that it gives to me. In a spirit of humble gratitude, I placed the small stone at the base of the oak tree that hosts the sculpture of the Indian maiden who married the tree fairy and has become one with the forest.
Perhaps not coincidentally, last week also marked the first days I began using my Gratitude365 daily gratitude journal. I wholeheartedly recommend this simple but powerful practice of jotting down each day a few things you are grateful for. It is a perspective-shifting exercise that spills over into nearly every aspect of your life. I like the Gratitude365 app for the iPhone, because it's easy to use and I can add a picture each day, which appears on a monthly calendar.
Today's gratitudes will certainly include the gift of comforting snow and for the growing spiritual relationship with my mother. Last night before going to bed I just read a beautiful piece she had written about the comfort of snow and how all the snowflakes were like sisters holding hands to provide blessing and comfort. Then I awoke to find the sisters had come once again. A blessed and peaceful birthday to you, Mom.
