i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes
(i who have died am alive again today,
and this is the sun’s birthday; this is the birth
day of life and of love and wings: and of the gay
great happening illimitably earth)
how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?
(now the ears of my ears awake and
now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
e.e. cummings
1894-1962
I first saw and read the poem above many years ago published in the bulletin of the Marikina Zendo in the Philippines. It is a favorite poem of my Zen Teacher, Sr. Rosario Battung, RGS. One way of learning a new language is to ask the person to say what it means, "Thank You" in his or her own language. "Muchas Gracias"(Spanish), "Grazie"(Italian), "Salamat Po"(Tagalog) are the few words I know. The same is true in spiritual life. To be able to learn the language of the spirit, one has to be able to express thanks and gratitude to God for all His gifts and for everything, even the seemingly bad things in the daily experience of life, which later on will serve a good purpose in the divine economy. There are many creative ways to thank God using the gifts of senses He gave us. Our sense of seeing can see the beauty of His creation. Our sense of hearing can hear the music of the wind and the rivers. Our sense of taste can enjoy the blessings of food and the warmth of a kiss. Our sense of smell can be awakened by the fragrance of a rose. Our sense of touch can give life to a brokenhearted soul. Another way is by way of comparison of my life before and my life now. In my past experience how did God manifest His grace. In my life today how is God sustaining and guiding my steps and decisions. To be able to see the difference and to see the workings of God in my life are jumping boards for grateful prayer of thanks to Him. Identification of gifts given in the forms of persons in my circle of family, friends and associates, and even in personalities of the sacred and the mundane world I live in, can also be a reference in my way of thanking God. I can also expand it to see the larger view in my work, travel, and even dreams still to come. As I start to count my blessings, I discover that the list is infinite.
As an exercise, try to compose your own prayer of thanks to God today, at this very moment in your life. The result is your own gratitude prayer to God, something which is deeply personal and from the innermost core of your heart.
Lord God, thank you for gift of life, the gift of family and friends, the gift of a place to live and food to eat and the gift of this new day. Help me to treasure each gift as it comes from You and from those around me and the world I work and live. May your gifts be treasured and shared always for your greater glory. Amen.
