With Gratitude
A deep bow to those who reach into the darkness to rekindle other people's lights...
“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” —Albert Schweitzer
From time to time, my light dims or dies for a while. But when I hear from my readers, I often find myself saying, “Thank you for rekindling me.” So today I’m making a deep bow to folks who follow this page and help create a community of truth-telling, vulnerability, respectful dialogue, and mutual encouragement.
Some of you have rekindled my light by joining me in sorrow or anger, or in the kind of laughter that lights up the room. Some by responding to questions I’ve posed, or by posing questions of your own. Some by saying “Maybe” or “No” in a spirit that allows me to listen and learn. Some by telling your story in ways that make me feel less alone. Some by responding to the world’s suffering with actions that go beyond empty “thoughts and prayers.”
What would a writer’s life be without readers who care? Whether you leave comments or simply do me the honor of following this page, I’ll be thinking about you with gratitude as my family gathers at the Thanksgiving table.
I’ll also be making a deep bow to all the "dear men and women” who will not be at our table, except in blessed memory. At age 86, my list of the dearly departed is long. It goes beyond those named in my family tree to those I regard as “chosen family” because they helped love me into being. This excerpt from the poet John Hall Wheelock expresses my gratitude for them with more elegance than I can muster. I hope you find it evocative of those who breathed life into you…
The road to love, truth, and justice is endless, and right now it is perilous. But every small step we take down that road honors the gift of life we’ve been given and helps pass it along. In that spirit, I wish you day after day of gratitude in action!
P.S. There’s a national movement afoot to deliver a message to the regime in D.C. and their corporate enablers that “We Ain’t Buying It.” Participation is easy: from Nov. 27th through Dec. 1st, don’t buy anything from Amazon, Home Depot or Target. In the spirit of nonviolent resistance, let’s join in this pushback to the MAGA madness that’s callously snuffing out so many lights at home and abroad.
[NOTES: I post on Substack weekly, as time and energy allow. Free as well as paid subscriptions will always have access to everything I post. The Center for Courage & Renewal, a nonprofit I founded, is HERE.]
I may not have been born rich, beautiful or brilliant,
but on this day each year I thank God almighty
I was not born a turkey.
And I offer my forgiveness, in advance,
to anyone who begs to differ.
If you are alone or wish you were,
you are still in the company of millions.
It is the Spirit of gratitude, caring and sharing
that transforms every day into Thanksgiving.
We will be remembered before and after
our lease on life is up
not so much by what we received
as by what we offered.
The only way to keep love
is to give it away.
Peace and many other blessings,
Dwight Lee Wolter
Parker, you have rekindled me more than once, beginning with Courage to Teach - and I am infinitely grateful.
I was a heavy user of Amazon and Target on line but decided to drop both with this new administration.
At first it seemed easy, but lately I realized that I have sort of forgotten how to shop in “real life.” I don’t even know where to go for some things!
Not a bad exercise at my age!
XO