Uplifting Thought

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE 

Several years ago, our Wellbeing Coordinator, Brett Borbely, invited Hugh van Cuylenburg to talk to the staff about resilience. He was passionate about the spiritual qualities that he believed were the building blocks for resilience: gratitude, mindfulness and empathy. Hugh told us about his experience with a poverty-stricken community in North India and, in particular, with a dear little boy. Hugh's story resonated so deeply with me that I left that meeting on wings. At every opportunity I regaled the story of the little boy, always with a lump in my throat and tears pricking my eyes. Such was the depth of my response that I have never forgotten Hugh’s experience and felt that his story of gratitude is well worth sharing.

It would take many paragraphs to set the scene and I don’t have that luxury. Suffice to say that material possessions were scant in this community, to say the least, yet everyone seemed to have an abiding sense of contentment and gratitude. The little boy with whom Hugh had bonded had shown particular kindness and empathy to Hugh and at every opportunity expressed his gratitude by pointing at something and saying ‘Dis’ (meaning 'this  is what I'm grateful for'.) One evening, whilst making his way back to his accommodation, Hugh heard a rustling noise in an alleyway and on investigating closer, discovered the little boy making himself comfortable under a piece of cardboard. Hugh was rewarded with a glorious smile when his little friend recognised him. A conversation ensued, albeit mostly with gesticulations. What became apparent was that the child was an orphan and he was homeless. Hugh’s expression must have reflected the shock and dismay that he felt for this child, but endeavouring to comfort Hugh, the little boy pointed to his piece of cardboard and said, ‘Dis’.

What a humbling lesson – no ‘3149’ postal code; no ‘Sealy Posturepedic’ mattress; just the recognition that something as simple as a piece of cardboard to shelter him was a reason for joy and gratitude.

Mary Baker Eddy’s opening words in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures are: ‘To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, today is big with blessings.’ Clearly, Hugh’s little friend had a sustained gratitude which built his resilience and helped him to surmount enormous challenges.

Hugh was delighted to discover recently that this young man was indeed richly blessed and is now serving in the military.

Imagine waking up with the expectation that ‘today is big with blessings.’ Imagine carrying that expectation through your day, everyday … ‘today is big with blessings.’ What an attitude of gratitude. Let's put on our 'lens' of expecting good and don't be surprised when you're suffused with blessings. In God’s words from Malachi 3:10 ‘… prove me now herewith, … if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.’

                                                                                                                                                                                              Meg Cole