When I walked from Marywood to the monastery for morning
prayer today, I was startled by a tremendous flash of lightening. An average
bolt of lightning, striking from cloud to ground, contains more than one
billion joules of energy—enough to power a 60-watt light bulb for six months.
It was a dramatic example of God’s power at work in the universe.
Typically, God is a much more subtle presence in our lives. Furthermore,
God’s constant provision for our needs often leads to complacency, which, as
Augustine Roberts notes in his book Centered
on Christ, can lead to “a certain insensitivity to grace.”
A consistent attitude of gratitude can help us remain
sensitive to the grace that surrounds us. Giving thanks before meals helps
remind us of the complex labors of the earth and humans that led to the blessing
of the food sitting before us. Offering a prayer before we begin work can
attune us to the miracle of the way our minds and bodies function. Counting our
blessings before going to sleep reminds us that all life is a gift from God who
loves us. When we incorporate gratitude into our daily lives, we won’t have to
rely on occasional lightning strikes to remind us that God is here now,
surrounding us with grace.
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