World Gratitude Day - In Gratitude there Is No Space for Hate!

When you are grateful, you are not fearful, and when you are not fearful, you are not violent. When you are grateful, you act out of a sense of enough and not out of a sense of scarcity, and you are willing to share. If you are grateful, you are enjoying the differences between people and respectful to all people. The grateful world is a world of joyful people. Grateful people are joyful people. A grateful world is a happy world. — Brother David Steindl-Rast

On this, World Gratitude Day, I was reminded of these words as I sat this morning reflecting on the experiences of yesterday, of standing with other people of faith alongside 2SLGBTQIA+ persons in the face of bigotry and hatred.

There was no joy present in those across the way from us – in fact, as they chanted loudly and angrily, some in our number danced to their beat. And when others drove by us and flipped us ‘the bird’ we proudly counted the insults and smiled and waved. As some across the way waved their fists and held black flags, we sheltered in the rain under rainbow flags and embraced those we’d not seen since the last parade of love.

Friends, we have nothing to fear in the diversity of experience and expression of love. Let us be grateful. “Grateful people are joyful people. A grateful world is a happy world.” In gratitude there is no space for hate!

Happy World Gratitude Day!

Lloyd