
The act of Praise has amazing power to redirect our energies to gratitude and joy. It is an essential practice for maintaining balance and perspective during the dark times of our lives as well as in times of great happiness and buoyancy. Praise can also link us directly to our greatest resource for transformation, which is our capacities for creativity.
In his book titled 'Creativity', Matthew Fox writes: "There is so much to praise. We have only begun a simple list of the gifts of nature around us that deserve praise. We have talked of earth and sky, of rocks and trees, of water and understanding, of animals such as the crane and the tiger. We could also talk of fireball and hydrogen atoms, of galaxies and supernovas, of carbon and oxygen and sulfur, of sun and moon, of stars and planets - the list is unending. We could talk of music and musicians, paintings and painters, pots and potters, poems and poets, bridges, cities and engineers, rituals and ritual- makers. Is there any end to the Litany of Praise that our species is capable of? Why hold back? Creativity begins with praise.
Praise is all-powerful. Praise moves the soul and cleanses the soul. It even shifts the soul and rescues it from those powers of cynicism and thanatos that are capable of stealing our souls from us. That is why praise is a path to healing and to waking up, a path to getting over our wounds and deep hurts and abuses and becoming fully present again to that which is praiseworthy, i.e. to life and its many gifts: to creation and its diverse beauties, wonders, and relationships. That is why Hildegard of Bingen, among others, urges us to '...Be not lax in celebration. Be not lazy in the festive service of God. Be ablaze with enthusiasm. Let us be an alive, burning offering before the altar of God!' Praise is celebration, and celebration is praise. Praise is the utterance of appreciation. It also increases our appreciation, for when we praise with others we absorb their gratitude at the same time that we utter our own."
With these thoughts in mind I encourage you to step outside and look for a moment at the rocks or the trees or the mountains. Take some time to feel the wind on your face and to hear the sounds of birds or of children and let your heart be filled with gratitude for all the gifts of beauty and wonder around us!
Peace to you...and light on your path!
In his book titled 'Creativity', Matthew Fox writes: "There is so much to praise. We have only begun a simple list of the gifts of nature around us that deserve praise. We have talked of earth and sky, of rocks and trees, of water and understanding, of animals such as the crane and the tiger. We could also talk of fireball and hydrogen atoms, of galaxies and supernovas, of carbon and oxygen and sulfur, of sun and moon, of stars and planets - the list is unending. We could talk of music and musicians, paintings and painters, pots and potters, poems and poets, bridges, cities and engineers, rituals and ritual- makers. Is there any end to the Litany of Praise that our species is capable of? Why hold back? Creativity begins with praise.
Praise is all-powerful. Praise moves the soul and cleanses the soul. It even shifts the soul and rescues it from those powers of cynicism and thanatos that are capable of stealing our souls from us. That is why praise is a path to healing and to waking up, a path to getting over our wounds and deep hurts and abuses and becoming fully present again to that which is praiseworthy, i.e. to life and its many gifts: to creation and its diverse beauties, wonders, and relationships. That is why Hildegard of Bingen, among others, urges us to '...Be not lax in celebration. Be not lazy in the festive service of God. Be ablaze with enthusiasm. Let us be an alive, burning offering before the altar of God!' Praise is celebration, and celebration is praise. Praise is the utterance of appreciation. It also increases our appreciation, for when we praise with others we absorb their gratitude at the same time that we utter our own."
With these thoughts in mind I encourage you to step outside and look for a moment at the rocks or the trees or the mountains. Take some time to feel the wind on your face and to hear the sounds of birds or of children and let your heart be filled with gratitude for all the gifts of beauty and wonder around us!
Peace to you...and light on your path!