Aligning with Grace

"May I be kind and merciful. May I be humble and compassionate. May I be loving and forgiving. " Twelve years ago this week, I began this blog. It has taken many shapes and served many purposes throughout the years. This morning, on this Thanksgiving week, I went down to the river to do a gratitude practice. I was reminded of a "Gratitude Litany" I had created a few years ago as a 90 second meditation. As I did my practice, I found myself voicing these words out loud into the blue expanse before me as a white egret floated quietly on the river: "May I be kind and merciful. May I be humble and compassionate. May I be loving and forgiving. " Practices do not have to be elaborate. They need not consume hours of our time. Just a few minutes of our time to be mindful of those in need that we know - and those we don't - is all that is required. Just a few moments of presence and of gratitude will go a long way to changing us, our lives

Reminders of the power of offering peace and blessings to others, sometimes arrives unexpectedly in our lives.  Like at Costco. Seriously! I was on my way out of Costco this morning, having run in just to get batteries for my new flameless candles which were destined for my fireplace. All I meant to do was to zip in - and just as quickly zip out. Being the introvert that I am, my favorite time to hit the stores is when they open or fairly early during the day, when they are still not relatively crowded or busy.  I was just on my way out, when the elderly Middle Eastern man who has worked there more than a quarter of a century greeted me. I had not seen him lately and had been wondering about him. He is always cheerful, mindful, and I often overhear him dispensing blessings to all he encounters as he checks our receipts and purchases. I stood there for a moment - it wasn't busy, mind you. I looked him in the eye, thanked him, and wished him a good day. He stood still