By Chuck Davis
Autumn is upon us. Leaves are starting to pop in color. Days are crisper, allowing sweaters around the fire pit at night. In this corner of the world, we are privileged to experience Autumn in all its brilliance.
We moved from Greenwich 6 years ago, only to return in July. Much has changed in our world, socially and experientially, in these past years. Much has changed in my personal world over the same period. I imagine you might note the same in your own life.
But one thing has not changed. We are beyond blessed to live in such a beautiful setting, while having all the social and cultural opportunities available to us in southeastern Connecticut. Once I moved away, I could recount and tell wonderful stories to new friends about the wonder of living in Greenwich. But the regaling was never as good as re-experiencing anew this time around.
Given this bounty, I want to be sure to live out of sense of gratitude. It is so easy to drift in life from the solid footing of gratitude to the always unfulfilled task masters of envy and covetousness.
I recently discovered the following quote from Melody Beattie, “Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough and more. . . It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.”
I want feast, home, and friend!
In our previous stint, we lived in Greenwich for 11 years. Interestingly, the next longest stay for our family was in Mali, West Africa. Mali was the 6th poorest country in the world, according to United Nations standards. It is on the other side of opportunity and bounty than Greenwich. It is also sub-Saharan dry with unremarkable season changes. We had 3 seasons – hot, hotter, and hottest.
Our neighbors and friends faced overwhelming odds for survival. Yet they were some of the most grateful and joyful people with whom we have had the privilege of sharing life. Their example reminds me that gratitude is a lifestyle that needs to be fostered. It does not naturally correlate to our circumstances or surroundings.
Gratitude can slowly leak from us when the want for what we don’t have becomes greater than the realization of what we do have. So how can I stay in the flow of gratitude. It begins with a recognition that all is gift from God, even down to the breath of life that I get to steward today.
I draw my inspiration from the Bible. The Scriptures declare it this way, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (James 1:17).
Thankfulness that acknowledges the ultimate source of all blessing is a good antidote against envy, hoarding, lack of gratitude, and just general crankiness.
I like the words of Alexander MacLaren, “Seek to cultivate a buoyant, joyous sense of the crowded kindness of God in your daily life.”
I am in Greenwich Part II. I am feeling really crowded by the kindness of God. I hope you are as well!
The Rev. Dr. Chuck Davis is the Transitional co-Lead Pastor at Stanwich Church. Chuck is also the founder of Global Lead and the President of Global Leadership Inc. To learn more about Chuck go to GlobalLead.org
