Diana, any chance you have heard of a book and documentary by Eric Metaxas called Letter to the American Church? The Republican Party in Joplin MO is showing the movie daily this week and I am alarmed at the book’s deceptive inclusion of Bonhoeffer’s example as a call to as for the American church. Any comment?
(PS I was in Springfield last weekend to hear your talks at Drury; thank you!)
Just thinking about being salty and not bland when bringing our faith into political discourse, I believe you would all enjoy this podcast. https://youtu.be/e3XV0ulAhgk?feature=shared
I encounter lots of secular folk who practice gratitude. That’s great, as far as it goes. But can one be grateful for something without being grateful to someone?
Even if someone doesn't believe that God is the ultimate Giver, certainly the Universe gives gifts. The Earth gives gifts. Friends give gifts. Your parents gave you gifts. Theism isn't necessary at all for gratitude!
That's one of the great things about it -- gratitude can unify us all.
I loved this and believe it wholeheartedly. I have been keeping a gratitude journal for years and know and feel the difference it has made. I absolutely loved your explanation of pepper and salt in cooking and how it applies to our souls.
I learned in the last two years from a chef that salt is not a spice and how it works. I had the science! Earlier today I learned that gratitude is the salt of my soul. This is my interpretation in short, of this lovely and meaningful offering. Now my theology and science are working together in a new and clearer way. I was very grateful this last week as Hurricane Helene came on shore and barreled up through GA toward Macon that I live in a retirement community that put out good guidelines for hurricane prep. including a way to feed a couple hundred people on Friday/post storm. I was not at all feeling well Wed- and on -yet I am grateful that I had/have excess to medical help on site if needed. and etc. etc. Macon wasn't without some problems but we faired better than many other places even in Macon. This 'old salt' is grateful . Oh and we lived in Houston at one time and we had some experiences with some memorable storms. Peace to all. My prayers go out to all affected by the storm .
So much appreciate this insight. I’ve been thinking about losing one’s saltiness, or the lukewarm Laodiceans who seemed to have lost something too. I have the conservative evangelicals in my brain troubling me with the possibility that i just fit too well into the world. But this idea of salt bringing out one’s truest self leads me to think that maybe my longing for justice in the world, for protecting the vulnerable, for peace—maybe that is my salt and I, too, am not losing that saltiness. Salt is not an irritant to sting the unbelievers’ hearts, but a healing hope for the upside down world of the Sermon on the Mount to be realized.
Grateful for you, Diana. That you continually remind us not only of the greatness of God, but of God's goodness toward the whole of creation, of which we are only a part. And that we can co-create with God through acts of love that flow through us. I am a member of Gratefulness.org, the non-profit founded by Brother David, and it is a blessing to everyone who logs on to it.
Diana, any chance you have heard of a book and documentary by Eric Metaxas called Letter to the American Church? The Republican Party in Joplin MO is showing the movie daily this week and I am alarmed at the book’s deceptive inclusion of Bonhoeffer’s example as a call to as for the American church. Any comment?
(PS I was in Springfield last weekend to hear your talks at Drury; thank you!)
Thanks for the Grateful Day video.
Beautiful!
Thank you for great insights. A poem arrived on New Year's day this year, your insights fit each stanza:
What am I?
You are the salt of the world.
Am I a grain of salt?
Or just a molecule of sodium and chlorine
created at creation?
Or one of perhaps 1022 in that grain?
How much of me is required
now?
To make a difference
here?
You are the light of the world.
Am I a wave
or a particle?
How do I make a difference without mass?
Can I live in the quantum of both/and?
May I bring light, heat, illumination, or what I am here for.
Refracting, reflecting, diffracting, shining
Jesus
for the world.
Unless a grain falls in the ground
How do I die to bring fruit?
First comes the root
Exploring your depths,
Orientating the shoot to your light
in and through the warm damp dark
May I be known by stem, leaf, form, blossom or fruit.
When autumn comes may others find
your colours shining.
Salt gives me higher blood pressure
I don’t add salt because of high blood pressure.
Just thinking about being salty and not bland when bringing our faith into political discourse, I believe you would all enjoy this podcast. https://youtu.be/e3XV0ulAhgk?feature=shared
I encounter lots of secular folk who practice gratitude. That’s great, as far as it goes. But can one be grateful for something without being grateful to someone?
Omigosh! YES!
Even if someone doesn't believe that God is the ultimate Giver, certainly the Universe gives gifts. The Earth gives gifts. Friends give gifts. Your parents gave you gifts. Theism isn't necessary at all for gratitude!
That's one of the great things about it -- gratitude can unify us all.
I expect that my practice of gratitude would be enhanced if I explicitly named the source of these gifts, both proximate and ultimate.
I don't judge anyone's gratitude -- and I'm grateful for everyone on a journey of deep love, empathy, and compassion!
So good!! Thank you!!
No one can ever accuse me of not using enough salt :) all you need is salt, butter, love, and gratitude.
I loved this and believe it wholeheartedly. I have been keeping a gratitude journal for years and know and feel the difference it has made. I absolutely loved your explanation of pepper and salt in cooking and how it applies to our souls.
I learned in the last two years from a chef that salt is not a spice and how it works. I had the science! Earlier today I learned that gratitude is the salt of my soul. This is my interpretation in short, of this lovely and meaningful offering. Now my theology and science are working together in a new and clearer way. I was very grateful this last week as Hurricane Helene came on shore and barreled up through GA toward Macon that I live in a retirement community that put out good guidelines for hurricane prep. including a way to feed a couple hundred people on Friday/post storm. I was not at all feeling well Wed- and on -yet I am grateful that I had/have excess to medical help on site if needed. and etc. etc. Macon wasn't without some problems but we faired better than many other places even in Macon. This 'old salt' is grateful . Oh and we lived in Houston at one time and we had some experiences with some memorable storms. Peace to all. My prayers go out to all affected by the storm .
Beautiful and I loved the video. Thank for that.
So much appreciate this insight. I’ve been thinking about losing one’s saltiness, or the lukewarm Laodiceans who seemed to have lost something too. I have the conservative evangelicals in my brain troubling me with the possibility that i just fit too well into the world. But this idea of salt bringing out one’s truest self leads me to think that maybe my longing for justice in the world, for protecting the vulnerable, for peace—maybe that is my salt and I, too, am not losing that saltiness. Salt is not an irritant to sting the unbelievers’ hearts, but a healing hope for the upside down world of the Sermon on the Mount to be realized.
Thank you for sharing The Grateful Day video. I had not seen it before and it is beautiful.
I watch it whenever I feel down.
Grateful for you, Diana. That you continually remind us not only of the greatness of God, but of God's goodness toward the whole of creation, of which we are only a part. And that we can co-create with God through acts of love that flow through us. I am a member of Gratefulness.org, the non-profit founded by Brother David, and it is a blessing to everyone who logs on to it.
"practice gratitude" - Pay attention to all the acts of love God provides in every moment.
Beautiful words. Thank you Diana.