I am really enjoying 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp and have begun a list of my own 1,000 gratitudes and wonders. Here is an excerpt.
"Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning joy. Joy. Ah...yes. I might be needing me some of that.
I breathe deep like a sojourner coming home. That has always been the goal of the fullest life - joy. And my life knew exactly how elusive that slippery three-letter word, joy, can be.
That's what I was struggling out of nightmares to reach, to seize. Joy. Deep chara is found only at the table of the euCHARisteo - the table of thanksgiving. I sit there long...wondering...is it that simple?
Is the height of my charajoy dependent on the depths of my eucharisteo thanks? As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible. Whenever, meaning - now; wherever, meaning - here. The holy grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy ownde could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now, joy might be - unbelievably - possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here and now.
Charis. Grace.
Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving.
Chara. Joy.
A triplet of stars, a constellation in the black.
A threefold chord that might hold a life? Offer a way up into the fullest life?
Grace, thanksgiving, joy. Eucharisteo."
Love it!! I've had that book for several months and just couldn't get past the first few pages. I was prompted a couple of days ago to pick it up and, as usual, God's timing is perfect. In the darkest season I've ever been in, I feel God calling me, pulling me UP to a higher place by resting in this and giving thanks...by opening my eyes to the beauty he gives us every second of every day. I am buying my new 1000 gifts journal tomorrow. Eucharisto!
ReplyDeleteAmen my friend! God's timing is perfect. I was just having this conversation today with another sweet sister in the throes of sadness and loss. Joy is here NOW - in the giving thanks - despite what we feel or what we are experiencing.
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