Tag Archives: gratitude

Overflowing with Gratitude

21 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by in Prayers, Reflections

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On this eve of Thanksgiving Day in the United States, I share A Thanksgiving Blessing by Naomi King.

“Let us join our hands and hearts in gratitude on this wondrous day, where we have the abundance of our lives before us. We remember on this day of bounty all of those who do not have enough, who are afraid, who are lonely, and who suffer. We wish for the abundance of this world to be shared, for fear to become love, for the lonely to feel welcomed, and for the suffering to know rest and joy. For the labors, the love, the care that gave us the delights of this and every day, we say ‘Thanks!’ For the nourishment of our spirit, the challenges that strengthen us, and the friends we have on the journey, we sing ‘Thanks!’ For all that is our lives, for these good gifts, we whisper, ‘Thanks!’ Overflowing with gratitude, let us shout, ‘Thanks!’ Amen.” ~ Naomi King

This prayer is a blessed reminder to me to express my thanks to the One who is in all and around all and over all creation! We say our thanks, but we can also whisper or shout them. Each day is an invitation to give thanks for the good gifts of life.

I am also mindful this day of all those who suffer, and in particular the people affected by Hurricane Sandy, and those in harm’s way in Gaza and Israel. May they be comforted and strengthened in the days ahead.

Words and photo (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson

Praying on Sunday

15 Sunday Apr 2012

Posted by in Poems, Prayers

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Two years ago this month, my wife Dallis and I stayed for a week on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Here’s a poem I wrote that Sunday morning as I looked out upon the day!

Praying on Sunday

There are many to-morrows, my love, my love,
            But only one to-day.
            Joaquin Miller

On a Sunday morning like this
I am routinely in my study
gathering words to express peoples’ prayers
revisiting my sermon for flow and transitions
giving thought to a benediction.

Today I look out at towering pines
snow-brushed hills
blue sky meeting bluer water
birds of the air and creatures of the earth
my study renovated and redecorated
by all that God has made.

This life—
a particular path toward tomorrow’s tomorrow—
one day so often meeting the next
with little more than the passing recognition
that time flees before us we grow older we die—

This life is a prayer
written on the tips of wings and branches
carried on the breath of the winds
lived upon the altar of the earth.

On a Sunday morning like this
there is holy ground everywhere I look.
I enter my temporary study
and prepare to pray
my heart spilling over with gratitude.

Words (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photos (c) 2012 Dallis Day Richardson

P. S. ~ If you enjoy this blog, please share it with someone. My heartfelt desire for my writing is to invite others to see life from a place of awe and wonder!

Still I lie down

21 Wednesday Mar 2012

Posted by in Poems

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Dallis and I followed up our annual eye appointments in Los Osos recently with a quick trip out to Montana de Oro State Park (about 5 miles from our eye doctor’s office) on the central coast of California. After hiking along a trail overlooking Spooner’s Cove, as we made our way back to our car, Dallis spotted this bobcat. While she snapped several great shots (this is my favorite), I fumbled around with my camera and got nothing!

However, I did write this poem, inspired in part by the environment we were in and in part by the look in this bobcat’s eyes!

I open my eyes to the morning,
To the sky bursting with light,
The massive ocean-seared rocks,

The rolling bluffs covered in scrub.
On this bright, enchanting day,
The earth spins in desperate want,

And I am awake to its sorrows.
Still I lie down in soft blades of comfort,
Grateful for all that is seen and unseen.

Words (c) 2012 Mark Lloyd Richardson
Photo (c) 2012 Dallis Day Richardson