A good time for gratitude

When we suffer tragic circumstances or when we are sad over a

misfortune, we give vent to our grief. We are all aware of what we

lack or what we have lost. Are we grateful, appreciative and

thankful, though, in times of joy and blessing, prosperity and

well-being? A survivor of a flood was asked if he prayed during the

crisis. He replied, “For that kind of thing, you should be prayed-up

in advance.” It is one thing to pray during times of crisis, but a

greater thing is to cultivate a lifelong daily relationship with God

through an outpouring of thanksgiving.

We are blessed with the ability to love, work, think, create, hope

and to be alive each day. I am grateful to live in a land of freedom,

to enjoy a faith that inspires me, for all who bequeathed a legacy of

meaning and purpose to me, for the promise of the future. I believe

that man will not perish for a want of information but for lack of

appreciation. So, I am thankful for what I have received and for what

I have escaped. A man said to journalist Horace Greely, “I am a

self-made man!” Greely responded, “I am glad you have absolved God of

any responsibility for you!” No one is “self-made.” We are all

indebted to God for making us who we are and for placing within us,

around us and above us gifts that are at all times and in all ways

claims on our appreciation.

It was reported that Rudyard Kipling received 10 shillings for every word he wrote. Students at Oxford University sent Kipling 10

shillings with the request that he send them “one of your very best

words.” He called back, “Thanks.”

RABBI MARK MILLER

Temple Bat Yahm

Newport Beach

I am thankful for an opportunity to count our blessings: the glory

of a sunset over the Pacific and a sunrise over the Atlantic; the

majesty of a mountain or the ribboned beauty of a Grand Canyon carved

by the millennial slice of the winding river; the tart taste of a

crisp, fall apple; the delicate beauty of a red, red rose; the cool

texture of a smooth, round stone; the smell of fresh-baked bread or

fresh-mown grass or fresh-turned soil; the surprise of a gift.

Nothing on earth can be bought that is better than the touch of a

friend or father or mother or husband or wife; the giggle of a child;

“I love you.” The unutterable joy of a relationship reconciled after

much hurt. The goodness of a community become a family who will not

give up on you.

May I hold up a face that becomes radiant within your sight; a

mathematical equation beautiful in its perfection; the feel of a

cross-court, two-handed backhand that leaves your racket certain to

caress both sideline and baseline; a perfectly hit drive splitting

the fairway long and high; a swished jump-shot or line-drive home

run. Personally, I am still celebrating the Angels’ 2002 World

Series! As a Golden Bear, I rejoice that Cal footballers will go to a

bowl game as I wish a national championship for that team the Bears

beat 34-31 this fall.

As a Christian, I am moved to gratitude by rock ‘n’ roll rhythms

like the Birds’ “Jesus is just all right with me ,” and/or an anthem

sung by willing voices, lovingly led, in joyous praise of God: a Bach

fugue on the St. Anne theme, “O God, our help in ages past, our hope

for years to come,” in which notes run on and on in intricate harmony

and in the same Godlike excess to be found in nature. Above all, I am

thankful for the grace of God.

THE VERY REV. CANON

PETER D. HAYNES

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Church

Corona del Mar