Lent: Reflection 1

i've been laughing lately. trying to enjoy my life. asking the goddess to hold my hand while i adjust to things not going my way. remembering what makes me smile. falling in love with myself...sometimes. writing. listening hard to the silence. taking it step by step, "bird by bird". praying to better understand repentance, because i think becoming truly repentant...the sort that causes me to cry for how i have dishonored myself and others...the sort my minister would call having "a contrite heart"...will move me into a place of real forgiveness and compassion toward all people...even me.
in part of the episcopal liturgy there is a prayer in which the priest calls out, "Give thanks to the Lord our God". the people respond, "It is right to give God thanks and praise". and this is my favorite part: the priest then calls back a lengthy statement about God's many titles which begins with "It is right". as if the writer of this prayer thought this point was so important they had to make it twice. it is right to be thankful for our lives, to live in a way that says to the creator, to the universe, to all there is, Thank You. when i can only see a foot in front of me and my list of blessings looks short, it is right to be thankful. so thank you. thank you. thank you thank you thankyou thankyouthankyouthankyou...