Welcome to the inaugural entry from The Deacon’s Desk. My name is Deacon Justin (Brent Kaseman), and I serve as a deacon in the Orthodox Church in America. I call Philomath home. Each month, I’ll share some thoughts and insights on things like gratitude, faith, forgiveness, family and perhaps even some of the history and meaning behind shared traditions like Christmas and other holidays. Thank you for stopping by The Deacon’s Desk!
I’m not sure who said it first — and maybe it can’t be attributed to a single person — but one sentiment that has stuck with me for many years is “to be grateful is to be human.” To be truly thankful for everything is a chief virtue and a remedy for ills. It can sound trite, but the old adage “count your blessings, one by one” is full of wisdom. If one can find gratitude in the small things, one has discovered an immutable source of joy in life. It starts with recognizing that everything is a gift. From life to breath, from the womb to the tomb, everything here and there is a gift of God. Thankfulness is that soft and warm reminder in the heart of hearts that every moment is a gift.
One secret to laying hold of this all-important virtue — and here I will have to sound trite again — is to “stop and smell the roses.”
Slow down.
Be aware.
The ancient fathers of the Church spoke about a concept called “nepsis,” which is often translated as watchfulness, awareness or vigilance. Let’s take a look at a daily, universal example of slowing down so that the heart can be aware and thankful. It can be rather easy to wolf down a plate of food without a second thought, especially when one is hungry. However, if one takes a moment to give thanks for what is in front of him, to savor each bite and to appreciate the gift, even the smallest meal can seem like a banquet at the King’s table. And one can apply this awareness and gratitude dozens of times every day: the gift of a new day, friends and family, food and water and shelter, and the beauty of the created world. Yes, counting your blessings one by one will gradually crowd out bitterness and ingratitude.
Now, perhaps it is easy to be thankful for the good and glorious things in life. It is another thing altogether to be thankful for the painful, the disappointing and the dreadful. For those familiar with the ancient biblical story of Job, he was a man who, somehow, through faith, accepted the good and the bad in life (he had his fair share of both) and refused to curse God for the bad. All of this is a great mystery indeed, and very likely well beyond the scope of this column. However, what I can say with great confidence is that every wound can be healed, the light shines brighter in the darkness, and every cross can become a resurrection.
Yes, to be grateful is to be human. Thanksgiving is the proper response to the goodness we encounter in life and perceive deep in our hearts. In the Christian tradition, thanksgiving is the centerpiece of worship. On the altar in the church are the bread and wine, sometimes called Holy Communion and sometimes called the Eucharist. The word “Eucharist” translates to “thanksgiving.” A priest named Father Alexander Schmemann celebrated his final church service on Thanksgiving Day in 1983. In his final sermon, he said, “Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy.”
I’m thankful you all took a moment to stop by The Deacon’s Desk.
(Deacon Justin is an ordained deacon of the Orthodox Church in America serving at St. Anne parish in Corvallis. He can be reached at brent.kaseman@gmail.com).
