Soul Matters
Welcome to Soul Matters!
Every month this year, we'll examine a different theme through Soul Matters, a Unitarian Universalist theme-based curriculum that encourages deep thinking about spiritual, religious, and philosophical topics. Look for opportunities in Worship, Religious Education, Sharing Groups, and on social media.
Our theme for November is Nurturing Gratitude. When it comes to how we should travel through our lives, our culture and religion are clearly at odds. Culture cries, “Accumulate!” Religion counsels “Appreciate!” The mantras couldn’t be more different: The commercials surrounding us scream, “Go out and grab all you can!” The pulpits before us plea, “Learn to want what you have.”
There’s an important reminder here: Gratitude is essential. It’s not simply a nice “extra” to get around to when we can. Or to put it another way, we aren’t built for constant striving and the pursuit of more. Instead, we need moments of pause in which we are filled and replenished by the large and small wonders of this world. As poet and philosopher, Mark Nepo, puts it: “The original meaning of the word “appreciate” means to move toward what is precious. So practicing gratitude reengages our aliveness—they awaken us to what is precious.” The implication here is clear: If we want to be truly alive, we need to pay attention when moments of gratitude arise.
