Friday, May 26, 2023
An English couple was visiting New York City for the first time, but were apprehensive, fearing the city would be dangerous and over-crowded. On their first day, their host took them to the top of a very high building, where they could get a good overview of the city. It was a clear, crisp day, and they marveled at the city’s beauty. During their entire vacation, they kept revisiting that first impression. It was such a great introduction to the city from on high, seeing everything in an expanded perspective. Their apprehensions vanished, and they appreciated the city in ways that seeing it “from the bottom” may have prevented.
How do you take inventory of your own life? Do you see it from the sewer or from the highest points, looking outwards in directions of overall goodness? Sometimes we simply have to back up to find a grateful heart.
When we start the day, we usually focus on the worst parts, and we let that sour everything. But I say, start the day from on high, and give thanks from a big-picture perspective. If you have some measure of health, express gratitude. If you have food and provisions, express gratitude. If you are free from strife today, express gratitude. Don’t get mired down in the sewer, starting in hell and raising hell throughout the day. Instead of raising hell, lower heaven into your day and stop harping on silly things that really don’t amount to much. Teddy Roosevelt said, “Do what you can with what you have right where you are.” Bless what you have. The word blessing means “confer prosperity upon.” Get into the flow of a grateful heart at the onset of your day. Get above pettiness and see blessing where it hides. Being grateful isn’t reactionary, it’s causal, and it draws good things into your life. Start from higher.