Thanksgiving is upon us, and gratitude is front and center. This past summer at the Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, the Rev. Galen Guengerich (senior minister of All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City) gave a presentation that greatly inspired many. I was not present for his talk, but I’ve heard so much about it that I feel like I was there. Guengerich’s presentation was called “Theology for a Secular Age”. The gist of his talk, based on what I’ve heard and read, was this: the major western faith traditions have a core theological response and religious discipline. For instance, he believes that Judaism is defined by the religious discipline of obedience to God’s commandments; Christianity by the religious discipline of love of God and love of neighbors as oneself; and Islam by the religious discipline of submission to God’s will. This brings us to the question, “What is the defining religious discipline of Unitarian Universalism?” (I would add to this the complication that we are not known for our discipline, religious or otherwise.)

Guengerich believes that Unitarian Universalists, as religious liberals, realize just how fleeting our existence is, and “how profoundly we are connected to everything that is.” And the only theological response that we can make to this reality of impermanence and profound interdependence is gratitude. Guengerich believes that gratitude must be “the defining element of our faith.” Unitarian Universalism, he believes, should be defined by the theological response of gratitude for the Interdependent Web of All Existence. And naturally, our religious discipline should likewise be gratitude.

As Guengerich puts it, “Gratitude links us to the past by revealing to us our identity: how we became who we are; and it links us to the future by revealing to us our duty: what we owe back in return.” The religious discipline of gratitude means that we will work toward a world of beautiful and fair relationships. That is what we owe back.

The trick to mastering this discipline? I personally believe the trick is to feel the gratitude – to have profound feelings of gratitude. The trick is to know gratitude not just intellectually, but also as an experience – to know it not just with your mind, but also with your body and (if you are comfortable with the term) your spirit. Gratitude should be a mind-body-spirit experience. (So put down this silly article I have written and stop thinking about gratitude – time to feel it!)

We have all received more than we could ever give back. Each one of us receives gifts from the people around us, and from other living creatures around us, and from nature itself – gifts from the universe itself, or from what some call God. Sometimes I close my eyes and take it all in – “the wonder of it all”. It’s a beautiful feeling. I hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving, filled with reasons for gratitude. I feel very grateful this year to be with you. I am plumb grateful – and still plumb excited – to be a part of this remarkable congregation. May we work together toward cultivating the discipline of gratitude.

In faith,
Lara

Guengerich believes that Unitarian Universalists, as religious liberals, realize just how fleeting our existence is, and “how profoundly we are connected to everything that is.” And the only theological response that we can make to this reality of impermanence and profound interdependence is gratitude. Guengerich believes that gratitude must be “the defining element of our faith.” Unitarian Universalism, he believes, should be defined by the theological response of gratitude for the Interdependent Web of All Existence. And naturally, our religious discipline should likewise be gratitude.

As Guengerich puts it, “Gratitude links us to the past by revealing to us our identity: how we became who we are; and it links us to the future by revealing to us our duty: what we owe back in return.” The religious discipline of gratitude means that we will work toward a world of beautiful and fair relationships. That is what we owe back.

The trick to mastering this discipline? I personally believe the trick is to feel the gratitude – to have profound feelings of gratitude. The trick is to know gratitude not just intellectually, but also as an experience – to know it not just with your mind, but also with your body and (if you are comfortable with the term) your spirit. Gratitude should be a mind-body-spirit experience. (So put down this silly article I have written and stop thinking about gratitude – time to feel it!)

We have all received more than we could ever give back. Each one of us receives gifts from the people around us, and from other living creatures around us, and from nature itself – gifts from the universe itself, or from what some call God. Sometimes I close my eyes and take it all in – “the wonder of it all”. It’s a beautiful feeling. I hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving, filled with reasons for gratitude. I feel very grateful this year to be with you. I am plumb grateful – and still plumb excited – to be a part of this remarkable congregation. May we work together toward cultivating the discipline of gratitude.

In faith,
Lara

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Posted by Rev. M. Lara Hoke on November 18th, 2009