Grateful

I have a distant memory of having to create a Thanksgiving service, perhaps it was last year, and feeling as if I wasn't sure that I had anything that I felt actively grateful for. Of course, it was an extremely privileged point of view because just the fact that there is no one shooting at me or dropping bombs on my house is cause for gratitude.

We forget, most of the time, that we are among the privileged.

Even as we face devastating news, we are among the lucky.

Even as we try to juggle home, school, work and more work, we have choice. We are not starving; we are not being physically accosted in the moment -- in the moment. In the moment, we are relatively safe, even if we are not happy.

But, this year, I am feeling happy. And grateful. I am feeling amazingly blessed that I have the opportunity to explore that which I want to give to the world. I feel blessed that there are things that I uniquely can see and do and feel that are uniquely mine to see, do and feel.

It might almost be silly. But as I see my limitations and live the realities of my life, I see possibilities that are mine to take, mine to utilize, mine to explore as I make my way being uniquely me.

Uniquely me, who doesn't quite fit with the ways of the world. Uniquely me, who has never quite fit in with the ways of the world. Uniquely me, who seeks to take the ways of the world and infuse them with transformational love.

In this moment, I am grateful for all those who cherish my unique being in the world.

Thank you.

Readying for Ottawa

I'm off tomorrow for the Unitarian Universalist Ministers' Association Convocation in Ottawa. The five-day event will be chock full of UU ministers, candidates and aspirants for the ministry. With a bevy of workshops, the time spent will give me a good indication of whether I feel comfortable in the company of working ministers.

As I aspire at this point in time to be among their numbers, I'm interested in how it will go, how it will feel. Up to this particular point in time, I have always felt a bit out of place among the ministers of the world, assessing them to be more concerned with the career aspects as opposed to the community service aspects of the role.

Still, I am excited by the opportunity to study in the moment, and look forward to seeing my Starr King School of the Ministry colleagues. I am rooming with a highly accomplished musician and I have packed all of my musical instruments and musical recording equipment with the idea that we will have moments to collaborate, record and orchestrate together.

With studded snow tires newly installed today, my car is ready to go, the check-engine light finally put to sleep with a new sensor. I pack cold sesame noodles, four-grain salad, cheese, salami, bread, bananas to get me ease the pressure of eating out all of the time.

It is a truly privileged life that I lead. And I am thankful for all who support me on this journey.