Thanks As A Way of Living - Day 7

I Am Leaf Mowing Man

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why without repeats.

1. I am grateful to get home in time to spend an hour and a ha;f mowing leaves before it got dark. This may be the last leaf mowing day before snow hits.
2. I am grateful there there were enough leftover scalloped potatoes for supper. Scalloped potatoes are comfort food that reminds me of Grandma Ledger.
3. I am grateful for the young lady who walked into Unity of Royal Oak today and asked, "What is this place?" As I shared my 3 minutes elevator speech and gave her some information about our Spiritual Community, she smiled and said she was very interested and would be back to check us out.
4. I am grateful that I did not get married out of high school like so many gay men of my generation did in order to do what was expected. I was engaged and was headed down the path of hiding our in a marriage. Fortunately, I knew who I was and that things would not be fair the the woman I was engaged to marry.
5. I am grateful for the play "Fun Home" that a group of us saw tonight. So many memories were stireed up, so many reminders of the way things were in the not too distant past. Thinking of Rich among others.

Always in Love,

Ric

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved

Thanks As A Way of Living - Day 6

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why without repeats.

1. I am grateful that I am able to reflect on who I am and how I show up in the world. I am not always right or wrong. I am in process always. This ability allows me to correct course, to change, to choose and to choose again.
2. I am grateful that I have learned that my feelings won't destroy me. I have gotten through difficult experiences and upsetting events.
3. I am grateful for the tool of Inquiry known as The Work that found me one day during a ministers meeting in the form of a package from a publisher that contained a book titled "A Thousand Names For Joy" by Byron Katie . The Work is simple and deep and has helped me notice and rewrite the story of my life. A process that continues.
4. I am grateful that I have learned that what other people think of me is what they think of me and has little, if anything, to do with who I am. The realization has been liberating from chasing after approval and love.
5. I am grateful that I can imagine things differently than they appear. Over my life I have used the power of imagination to stretch, grow, become, heal and transform my experience of life.
6. U am grateful I can change my mind. I am not stuck in a thought system or beliefs or a story. I am a unique point through which Life is expressing itself.

Always in Love,

Ric

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved

Thanks as a Way of Living - Day 5

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why. Oh, and no repeats.

1. I am grateful for Song & Spirit Institute for Peace. I met Brother Al, Hazzan Steve and Mary several years ago at a Good Friday service at Renaissance Unity. I have become friends of the three founders and a member of their Board of Directors. Tonight I was elected as the Board Chair. I love the practical ways that they allow Love to guide the work they do. I am honored to serve with them.
2. I am grateful to acknowledge the rains that have fallen in the Southeastern part of our nation over the past few days. Edwene Gains posted Thank God for the rain today on Facebook. Indeed, I take water for granted at times.
3. I am grateful for words that come to me when people call me and are wondering what to do or think now about a situation or circumstance in their lives. When I am still, ideas flow through me, blessings others and blessing me too.
4. I am grateful to know that there is always something I can do to bring more light into our world. Prayer, meditation, letter writing, phone calls to people in positions of power. These area all steps that lead to change.
5. I am grateful that I can hear the snoring of my dog, Porkchop, as he sleeps next to my desk. He reminds me I am never alone.

Always in Love,

Ric

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved

Thanks as a Way of Living - Day 5

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why. Oh, and no repeats.

1. I am grateful for Song & Spirit Institute for Peace. I met Brother Al, Hazzan Steve and Mary several years ago at a Good Friday service at Renaissance Unity. I have become friends of the three founders and a member of their Board of Directors. Tonight I was elected as the Board Chair. I love the practical ways that they allow Love to guide the work they do. I am honored to serve with them.
2. I am grateful to acknowledge the rains that have fallen in the Southeastern part of our nation over the past few days. Edwene Gains posted Thank God for the rain today on Facebook. Indeed, I take water for granted at times.
3. I am grateful for words that come to me when people call me and are wondering what to do or think now about a situation or circumstance in their lives. When I am still, ideas flow through me, blessings others and blessing me too.
4. I am grateful to know that there is always something I can do to bring more light into our world. Prayer, meditation, letter writing, phone calls to people in positions of power. These area all steps that lead to change.
5. I am grateful that I can hear the snoring of my dog, Porkchop, as he sleeps next to my desk. He reminds me I am never alone.

Always in Love,

Ric

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved

Thanks as a Way of Living - Day 4

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why. Oh, and no repeats.

1. I am grateful for Courtney Wrubel and her gift of music today. The Andra Day song Rise Up was amazing.
2. I am grateful that I am in the right lace at the right time always. As I walked into RenUnity this afternoon, a dear lady that I know well was learning that her son was found non responsive in his home. 
3. I am grateful to have a message of Hope & Faith to share this morning. Together we are expecting our Good because God is at the very center of us all.
4. I am grateful that I was able to attend the Celebration of Life service for Chris McKee. So many friend that I have not seen since I left Renaissance Unity to assume to leadership at Unity of Royal Oak. So many hugs!
5. I am grateful to have been around since the inception of The Gospel Truth at Church of Today. It was an amazing time in the live of the church and in my life as well. It was so cool to watch many of the members of TGT come together today to bless Chris McKee on his way.

Always in Love,

Ric

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved

Thanks As A Way of Living - Day 3

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why. Oh, and no repeats.

1. I am grateful for Porkchop - my dog, because he reminds me everyday not to take anything too seriously.
2. I am grateful to Deanna and Colene for selecting me as their wedding officiant. I have known these two for several years and am honored to facilitate their marriage after 23.95 years.
3. I am grateful for my scalloped potato making skills. Growing up my favorite places to be was with either of my grandmothers in their respective kitchens. Tonight, I made cheesy scalloped potatoes with ham and was so aware of my grandmother Ledger as I sliced and chopped.
4. I am grateful for retirement savings. After several; years without saving for retirement, I received my welcome package from the 403(b) plan for Unity Worldwide Ministries - woot!
5. I am grateful to hear about the neighbor who stopped this morning to compliment our volunteers on the way the grounds look at Unity of Royal Oak. One of our goals is to be a good neighbor and it is gratifying to know that the neighbors appreciate the efforts  of our team.

Always in Love,

Ric

.

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved

Thanks As A Way Of Living - Day 2

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why. Oh, and no repeats.

1. I am grateful for the team of volunteers who gathered this afternoon to begin decorating Unity of Royal Oak for the HolyDays! The color, shimmer and light of Christmas add to the mystical experience of this time of year.
2. I am grateful for the song "Into The Wild" by LP because it makes me feel like the beginning of an adventure. Each decade of my life has had a predominate "adventure." 
3. I am grateful for the ideas and perspective that Kim Lange brings to preparing celebration services. Since she joined our team as Creative Director earlier this year, the collaboration has been very satisfying.
4. I am grateful for the stillness of early morning. Morning is when I am usually most productive in terms of writing or studying. Ideas flow into form with minimal "thinking."
5. I am grateful that my car is in the garage at night because there is less scraping of windows and an expanded sense of security. People can't tell whether someone is home or not.

Loving this Blessed Life,

Ric

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved

Thanks As A Way Of Living - Day 1 (Happy Thanksgiving)

Thanks as a Way of Living - my gratitude practice till the end of the year (at least). A minimum, of five things each day that I am grateful for and why. Oh, and no repeats.

1. I am grateful for my mom, Deanna Beattie. Although she is gone from this physical dimension, she is with me in my thoughts, attitudes, feelings and in my family members. My mother taught through her example that happiness is not dependent on money. She gave of herself to us kids and to anyone who was around her. Taking people to pick up their Focus Hope food distribution was something she did for years. It was my birthday two days ago, and mom was so with me. Although she had little money she would always buy me a little gift even though I asked her not to for many years. The last few years they were dollar store gifts, but they each carried a mother's priceless love. Thanks for the love and for the raising.
2. I am grateful for the music on the CD Celtic Christmas Vol 2 from Windham Hill.  I have had this CD for twenty years and it is one of the first I play each season. It evokes awesome memories of prior holidays seasons and helps stir up the Spirit of Christmas within me. I am listening as I write this blog entry
3. I am grateful for the steaming cup of Good Earth Sweet & Spicy tea I am enjoying on this November day. I was introduced to Sweet & Spicy tea this past April while vacationing in Big Sur, California with friends Martha Creek and Diane Czerwonka. The three of us went to a spa which was my first time at a spa. What a wonderful, liberating day. Martha and Diane helped me move beyond my story about why I never experienced a spa day.
4. I am grateful for the opportunity yesterday afternoon to deliver the gift of Thanksgiving Dinner to two families that are part of our spiritual community. In ways that I could not have imagined, the gift from Unity of Royal Oak was a blessings to these two families and beyond them. Our overall Thanksgiving Dinner program reached thirteen families this year which has made this pastor very happy.
5. I am grateful that two days ago, on Nov 22, I celebrated 61 years of living. There was a time when I was not so sure I'd make it past 40. My thinking about love and life had gotten very twisted and I had lost myself down the rabbit hole of addiction to cocaine. I am grateful that Spirit found a way for my long abandoned hopes and dreams to come into demonstration beyond my wildest hopes.

Always in Love,

Ric

#LivingThanks

(c) 2016 by Richard L. Beattie, All Rights Reserved