Music Dear friends,
Welcome to today's meditation,
Where we look at the gift that is the life of each one of us.
Let's begin by ensuring that we are in a comfortable position,
A regular place if possible.
Allow ourselves to relax.
Close our eyes if that feels comfortable.
Notice the breath.
Notice the support of gravity.
Allow ourselves to become aware that we are here,
Now,
In this wonderful present moment.
There is an unwelcome tendency for us to be unhappy with what we have and even with what we are.
This is despite the fact that,
In material terms,
More people than ever have more material comforts than ever before.
The tall people want to be small,
So as not to have to bend getting into more confined spaces.
The small are envious of the tall.
The less wise envious of the more wise.
All of us envious of the good looks or the good fortune of others.
Let's spend a minute looking at our tendency to be unhappy with what we have.
Welcome back.
Now some aspects of ourselves can be changed if we really want to and if we work hard enough.
We can work on developing kindness.
We can work on developing kindness.
We can work on developing kindness.
We can work on developing kindness.
We can work to become more outgoing and more loving.
And if we really work at it and under careful supervision,
We can develop even a more athletic body.
We know that if we study and work hard,
Hopefully we will be more successful.
But many aspects of our lives are not ours to change.
Our body shape generally.
We have the body that we have with all its pluses and minuses,
And only limited opportunity for change.
We have our history and all that has gone to make us what we are.
Remember too that when we compare ourselves with others,
We are only looking at the surface and a very superficial aspect of the other person.
It's quite possible that if we had to change places with them and accept all that goes with them,
We would be much more comfortable remaining in our own skin.
You may have heard the story of a group of people brought together to place all their burdens in a basket in the middle of the room.
Then each one was to select a burden that they would be happier to carry rather than their own.
But when they checked the basket and they compared the burdens,
Most people took up the ones they had.
We really don't know what's going on in other people's minds.
Let's take a moment,
Just 60 seconds,
To reflect on this.
Welcome back,
Which brings us to the pointlessness of the wistful expression If Only.
If only this.
If only that.
If only the other.
Our happiness and contentment will benefit from a regular dose of acceptance mixed with a generous sprinkling of gratitude.
Especially acceptance and gratitude for the unearned gift of our existence in this time and place.
That existence is altogether remarkable,
Unbelievable when you think of it.
Let's share a prayer or two for this gift,
Prayers of gratitude.
First,
A prayer by Rabbi Warren Stone,
Entitled,
Source of All Blessings.
Source of all blessings,
I am grateful for my life,
For the blessings of my breath,
The beating of my heart.
Source of all blessings,
I am grateful for beloved ones who share life with me,
Those in our world beside me,
And those in worlds beyond my knowing.
Source of all blessings,
I am grateful to share life with our human family,
Jewish,
Christian,
Muslim,
Buddhist,
Hindu,
Sikh,
To which we must add Humanist,
Atheist,
Agnostic.
May we all walk gently upon our earth.
Source of all blessings,
I am grateful to be one with all creation,
The flight of birds wings,
The swirling of blue shoals oceans deep,
The running of wilderness creatures,
The sway of forests green.
Source of all blessings,
I am grateful to be part of the spiralling of all space and time beyond my imagination.
Yes and again yes,
I am grateful to always be here.
Where else could I go?
For this and more,
I am grateful.
And secondly then,
A prayer by Abigail Van Boren.
O Heavenly Father,
We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry.
We thank Thee for health and remember the sick.
We thank Thee for friends and remember the friendless.
We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved.
May these remembrances store us to service that Thy gift to us may be used for others.
Amen.
A final thought.
There are many aspects of our situation that cannot be changed.
All the wishful thinking will get us nowhere.
Let's be grateful for what we have and for what lies within our power to change.
Our acceptance and our gratitude will lead us to happy contentment.
Happiness and contentment,
They are my wish for you and for me today.
Namaste.
Amen.
