Gratitude Expressed

Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to the praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience (Thomas Merton).

What new wonder did you awaken to today? How will you express that in praise to God?

With some moments to pause in quiet gratitude and reverence?

With a favorite song of praise?

With a few lines to a new poem that’s forming … or a drawing or sketch that expresses the gratefulness and the honest praise bubbling up in your heart?

Below are some artistic renderings of gratitude and praise to God from two previous 2HC cohort members.

By Rebecca

Rebecca explains that she drew “Snapshot” in her notebook during 2HC — “a snapshot of my mind of things I was grateful for and contemplating at the time.” The sketch also depicts — as she describes it — “nature on the brain. Nature helps me heal.” The healing that she experienced and expressed helped her navigate the grief of moving back to her passport country after 16 years of crosscultural mission. The second piece was created with watercolor and pen, depicting one of the stained glass panels of the chapel at a retreat center.

Whisper’s Call

I hear the breath of stillness
a gentle blowing, a quiet stirring
awakening within my soul
to arise and come to You

I thought You’d come as a windstorm
to blow away my desperation
or like an earthquake to shatter
all my doubts and fears,
or as a fire to burn away
the pain and empty dreams
but
You come as a whisper
to pierce through what’s the purpose
the wonders and the whys
to open a highway in the wilderness
of discovery
and on the mountain opening
to ask “What are you doing here?”
to know whisper’s call is You.

So meet me in the answers I can
so easily give You
and touch me deep within
give me lasting longing for resting
in the moment
waiting in the stillness, surrounded
by Your presence
to hear whisper’s call.

By Susan Roberts

Susan, with over 30 years of crosscultural living in the Middle East, explains, “‘Whisper’s Call’ was written at a time when I was in 2HC and wanted so much to hear God’s voice to know what He had for my future and my life. I felt He spoke to me through the life of the prophet Elijah and the journey he went with God. Often what we want and what we’re looking for bring us to places of recognizing our deep need for hearing the whispers of God.”

Pause. Take your time. What new wonder might find creative expression from you today? “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever” (Ps 107:1)