Happy Thanksgiving from Emergence International 2012.

An offering of thanks can change your view.

Posted: 21 Nov 2012 09:38 AM PST

Prayers of gratitude to the sustaining infinite of all life have been traditional for centuries: David sang the songs of Psalms during personal and national conflict, Europeans have cultural and historical commemorations, and the Pilgrims in North America celebrated bountiful harvests.

A national day of Thanksgiving in the United States was first proclaimed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The country was in the middle of a devastating civil war – a war that would determine whether or not the states would actually be united – and it was the president’s hope that a day of thanks might serve to heal the conflict between the North and the South.

What wisdom, it occurs to me, that right there, surrounded by destruction and fear, there was a national call to pause, turn away from the evidence of war, acknowledge and offer sincere thanks for whatever blessings one does have, no matter how small.

Whenever I have had periods of struggle and doubt, turning to divine Love with a humble prayer of thanks for loving me right in the midst of turmoil never fails to pierce the dark with the light of hope. These moments of gratitude are warm beams that have the effect of diminishing the darkness, while accompanying and guiding me out of the shadows of thought.

Gratitude has a healing influence, not only for one’s self, but for others too. The world today in so many places and ways – wars in the Middle East, poverty and hunger in Africa, financial instability everywhere else – has need of warm beams of light and love. So wherever you are in the world, I hope you take a moment to offer your thanks for being loved by Love. It will surely bring abundant blessings.

Interpretation of Psalm 23

By an unknown author

The Lord is the shepherd of my thoughts;

I shall not want for divine ideas.

He makes me rest in the awareness of my own divinity:

He leads me to the inner stillness.

He restores my soul to its inner purity:

He guides me in the right use of my powers and abilities.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of doubt,

I will fear no evil – for Thou art with me;

Thy power and Thy presence, they comfort me.

Thou preparest an unlimited blessing for me, in every situation:

Thou anointest my head with understanding;

My whole being is filled with the light of Thy understanding.

Surely God’s ideas are mine all the days of my life:

And I shall dwell in this perfect awareness forever.

nnmmm