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The last few months have tested my faith. I am struggling to know how to function in a world where violence and dehumanization is "business as usual". We are witnessing non-stop violence against women and children and innocent civilians, war-mongering and profiteering, rampant anti-semitism and islamophobia, shaming and blaming and tearing each other apart.
All of it has me wondering how do we keep our hearts open in the face of so much destruction and demoralization?
Which has me reimagining gratitude. Gratitude is not about pretending. It’s not about positive vibes or "brightsiding". It’s not even about counting one’s blessings. Gratitude is about embracing the truth of what is so that we can hold the whole of who we are. It is how we build the capacity to not just witness suffering but to invite healing, to not just experience grief but to allow for joy. Gratitude when fully expressed has the power to energize and unleash hope and possibility.
From there, we can source the courage and capacity to keep going. To do what is needed to speak truth to power, stop the violence, resist oppression and care for each other.
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