Thanks and Giving

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to declare our respect for all things. Can we reach deep inside and see what truly matters, that we are just visitors here? This is also a time to ask for forgiveness if we have harmed others since this indirectly causes us inner harm. We open new doors when we give thanks by cultivating divine relationship with all things.

Thanksgiving is about reverence for all things with an altruistic spirit. We live in a critical time where individual generosity greatly matters. By giving, we both awaken and liberate ourselves. When we hold on to things too long this causes a painful form of separation. By becoming more mindful of how we take things, we can better return things and thus benefit from a achieving a higher level of freedom. Such responsible action comes from being humble and observing our ultimate interconnection with our mysterious world.

It's incredible that 67 million years ago trees, flowers, birds, bees and other things came into being. In the last 50 years our human population has double and our economy has expanded seven fold. Our consumption has double in the last two decades. What happens regarding future prosperity depends our developing bold hearts and collectively act together.

Just 6 million years ago the first American migrated here. When whites came here at Jamestown, Virginia, Arthur Barlow remarked of the Poona's: "A more kind and loving people cannot be found in the world."

My ancestry dates back to the first born off the Mayflower. And this is doubtless why I believe thanksgiving is everyday. We all ought to constantly count our blessings. The Iroquois celebrate their appreciation of this earth for days at a time, showing gratitude for all aspects of nature. Today we can all be Native Americans if we pay our respects to what we are so fortunate to have.

Many, including George Carlin, believe that you do not have to save the world since it will take care of itself. However, each one of us has to nurture our soul. Now we have an opportunity to magnify our thanks by showing our boundless possibilities of compassion. If only we make this intention and take the time to show our gratitude.

Let us foster pure hearts, and act to make wise choices. Let's celebrate our Thanksgiving with plentiful kind and generous acts. There is divine radiance when we salvage things instead of destroying them. Giving back is the ultimate way of blessing ourselves, thanking our surroundings and feeling good about our life.

I have come to terms with the future.
From this day onward I will walk easy on the Earth. Plant trees.
Kill no living things. Live in Harmony with all creatures. I will restore
the earth where I am. Use no more of its resources than I need. And listen, listen to what it is telling me. – MJ Slim Hooey