Partly Cloudy, Partly Sunny

This is the view I captured from my parking space when I arrived at work last Friday morning. “Be Grateful” is adhered to the upper left corner of the front windshield—near my line of vision. It was a gift from my friend Jill. I chose this spot for it because I knew I would need the reminder.

The clouds were stunning that morning, and also stark. A reminder of the ups and downs, trials and tribulations, challenges and darker times of life. None of us are immune to such happenings. They go with the territory known as living life.

“Be grateful” is not a command or an admonition. It is a simple statement, a cue, a nudge. Brother David Steindl-Rast suggests to us that we are not asked to be grateful for everything that happens, but rather that being grateful is possible in each moment. Even the cloudy and stormy moments. Pain can teach. Grief means we also have love. This breath I just took is precious. I am alive. Nature abounds.

We all have clouds. It is not a contest. Let’s not forget that we also each have the blue sky that is always there, the sun that rises on each new day. No need to compete or get greedy—it is here for each of us, not controlled by any of us. A gift to all of us, just like smiles and tears. No language barriers. Common ground that could just save us.

These two recent “Word for the Day” quotes are an appropriate closing.

It is a huge danger to pretend that awful things do not happen. But you need enough hope

to keep going. I am trying to make hope. Flowers grow out of darkness.

-Corita Kent-

Darkness deserves gratitude. It is the alleluia point at which we learn to

understand that all growth does not take place in the sunlight.

-Joan Chittister-

Make hope. Add alleluia points. Flowers grow out of darkness. All growth does not take place in the sunlight.