"You think this is just another day in your life, but its not just another day. It's the one day in your life that is given to you. Its given to you, it's a gift, the only gift that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness.......
Look at the faces of the people you meet. Each face has a unique story, a story that you could never fully fathom. And not only their own story, but the story of their ancestors is there. And in this present moment, in this day, all the people you meet, all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world flows together and meets you here......"
Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast
Reviewing my threads and remembrances about November and the Day of the Dead, I see that I've failed to note that November is also the month of Thanksgiving, at least, in the United States. And pilgrims being greeted by generous, if doomed, Native Americans with corn and turkeys aside, and things like "black Friday" entirely perverting the point, there is a perfect cyclical and spiritual rightness to that. How can we talk about the closing of the year, the final harvest festivals, going "into the dark", as well as honoring our ancestors and beloved dead ~ without, finally, arriving at GRATITUDE? In fact, now that I think about it, how can one really look at the experience of being alive without finally arriving at Gratitude?
I was looking for the perfect "Thanksgiving Day" card, and found this perfect video, a brief TED talk by Louie Schwartzberg followed by the artist's video about Gratitude, which includes his stunning time-lapse photography, accompanied by powerful words from Benedictine monk Brother David Steindl-Rast. I wanted to share this as my offering for Thanksgiving day.
Learn more about Louie Schwartzberg and Moving Art at www.movingart.com.
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