“What is the relation of [contemplation] to action? Simply this. He who attempts to act and do things for others or for the world without deepening his own self-understanding, freedom, integrity and capacity to love will not have anything to give others. He will communicate to them nothing but the contagion of his own obsessions, his aggressiveness, his ego-centered ambitions, his delusions about ends and means, his doctrinaire prejudices and ideas.” —Thomas Merton

            This quote was in a daily email devotion I receive from Richard Rohr, and it really spoke to me this week as we are not only preparing for our second Zoom worship on Sunday, but also preparing for a time of Thanksgiving.  When I am at my best, I find great power and comfort in the contemplative prayer tradition which Fr. Rohr represents.  And as I attempt, through prayer with with God’s help, to go to that deeper place of self-understanding, freedom, integrity, and love, I find there gratitude for so many things.  When I am not at my best, I spend lots of time in a detail-oriented world “accomplishing things” on my task list, and some what mindlessly feeling good about “doing something;” sometimes there is resentment for what I think should be, or what I should have, or should have done.  But when I am at my best, I am dwelling in this deep place of prayer; hopefully still getting things done, but doing them with a sense of purpose and call to God’s will in my life.  And most importantly, while doing and giving, dwelling in God’s presence in gratitude for this life God has given me.  
            I can say that I am deeply grateful for you joining me in worship over Zoom last Sunday, and I look forward to doing it again this week.  Not because we accomplished some technological feat (we did!), but because even across the internet it felt like we still gathered and prayed. That in spite of all of the technology, God showed up just like God always does, and this time I really felt it.  I hope you did too, or that you might join us this week.  
            Thanksgiving is not in itself a church holiday, and we all are aware of the mixed historical accounts of such a day.  Yet for a Christian, tapping into that deep place of love and gratitude is the beginning of our response to God.  My prayer is that this Thanksgiving season, you can find your deep connection and gratefulness, and that from that place of life and love you can reach out (virtually) to those you love, and to those you see in need.  
            May God bless you this week, give you a grateful heart, and active hands.  

See you online,
Jesse+