Gratitude and becoming more fully alive

There he is again Cranky Jesus!  At least that was my initial reaction to the passage.  Cranky Jesus at it again--- angry that only one person who is healed comes back. 

But what if we look at it just a little bit differently, what if  he isn’t cranky at all.  Luke makes no mention of Jesus emotional state.  So what if he was sad or disappointed ---wouldn’t that make more sense?

 If he was angry--- what would be the cause of the anger--- that he wasn’t getting kudos or that he wasn’t getting respect for doing what he just did--- but that seems so counter to the Jesus we read about--  So  what if we read it that he was sad for the other 9, sad because he knows the power that gratitude has to radically alter someone’s life. 

Now one of the things I have come to learn is that gratitude is more thank you.  I think thanks is part of gratitude---but can’t you can say thanks even with out being gracious…. For all we know ---the other 9 lepers could have turned and hollered ---"thanks Jesus” when they saw their leprosy fade away.

I don’t think that’s  the lesson ---- I don’t think Jesus is playing Miss Manners here reminding us to say our pleases and thank you’s---- but that there is something deeper at work in the leper who comes back.  He doesn’t just say thanks.   Luke says he turns back—he alters his course of action…. He praises God in a loud voice and then prostrates himself, lays himself down at Jesus feet I imagine in a puddle of  grateful tears. And Jesus then says to him—your faith has made you well… His posture of gratitude has transformed him in some way that Jesus declares him  made well.

 When I look at this story I see gratitude as the Leper’s growing awareness that he has been swept into the goodness and love of God that permeates all things, situations and moments.  What would it look like to be swept into that goodness and love that surrounds us on all sides?

There is scientific data that says that gratitude can be life altering both physically and mentally.

In 2015 there was a study that studied the physiological and psychological changes in those who wrote daily in journal about the things they were grateful for as opposed to those who journaled  about the things that irritated them and those who wrote daily simply about what they did.  After 10 weeks, the gratitude group reported:

“Feeling more optimistic and positive about their lives than the other groups. In addition, the gratitude group was more physically active and reported fewer visits to a doctor than those who wrote only about their negative experiences... 

[The article also reported that] “Focusing on the positive and feeling grateful can improve your sleep quality and reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. (2) Furthermore, [it says] levels of gratitude  correlate to better moods and less fatigue and inflammation, [and] reduc[es]the risk of heart failure[1]

Ira Byock, a palliative care doctor who works with the terminally ill in his book The Four Things That Matter Most: A Book about Living includes gratitude as one of touchstones that really enrich people’s end of life experiences.

Byock reports that when people can embrace gratitude as well as express love,  and ask for forgiveness and forgive they report that  their end of life time as some of the most vibrant and richest in their lives.    

In his book he tells the story of Ernesto a dying patient with only days to live.  On his last visit Ernesto beckoned Dr. Byock to his bedside and with all his strength pulled himself up and kissed Dr. Byock on the cheek saying, “Te Amo Doctor. Gracias, mi amigo.  I love you Doctor, Thanks my friend.”

Recounting this Dr.  Byock said.  “Lying on his deathbed, Ernesto appeared not mearly peaceful but radient.  In his dying,  Ernesto’s capacity to experience and express gratitude had expanded, and paradoxically he had grown more alive. [2]”

Paradoxically he had grown more alive

Dr. Byock and Jesus  remind us that gratitude is about become more fully alive  Gratitude helps us become more fully aware of how we are swept into the love and goodness that surrounds us.

How do we expand our capacity to express gratitude?

How do we recognize and give thanks for those good things that permeate all our lives?

Perhaps the Leper can help---  

Remember how he stops—he turns back and he expresses. 

How do we to see the goodness around us as opposed to getting caught up in the swirl of life? 

How do we turn back to reflect on our days and experiences?

How do we express to ourselves and to those around us our gratitude? 

Gratitude helps us to become more fully alive and more fully aware of the love and goodness that surround us.  It makes us well and makes connects us more fully to the Holy and it connect us to each other.    

AMEN

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[1] https://dailyhealthpost.com/gratitude-rewires-brain-happier/

[2] Ira Byock MD, The Four Things that Matter Most,  Pg. 112.