Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
The problem with the so-called tension between science and religion is that science and religion are usually engaged in quite different narratives, so in fact are not in competition with each other at all! Religion is talking about our soul and our relationship with God - Science is talking about what we know about the natural world. Both science and religion are seeking for truth in their own fields. God is truth and rejoices in all our genuine searching to discover truth.
One area of scientific research is currently very much endorsing what Christians have always known – the benefits of gratefulness. Psychologists are saying that gratitude is good for you!
In the challenges of the pandemic many people have joined a global network for grateful living, an interactive website where many thousands participate daily from more than 240 countries. This project is led by Brother David Steindl-Rast. To find out more go to https://gratefulness.org/
I listened to a talk recently about the benefits of gratefulness noted by psychologists and jotted down some of the points made:
- Gratefulness makes us participants in life rather than observers or consumers. If I am grateful for the meal someone has cooked for me, I stop being just a consumer of the meal. If I take this further and am grateful that each ingredient of the meal has reached my plate, think about the people who grew the food, cultivated and harvested it, transported it, purchased it, prepared and cooked it, my awareness of the meal increases greatly. I enter into a dynamic relationship with it, which is so much greater than just consumption.
- Our thoughts determine our lives! If we have negative thoughts the effect on our lives will be negative. Gratefulness blocks negative thoughts and builds positive thought patterns, with all the positive effects that these thoughts bring.
- People who have developed a habit of gratefulness are more resilient. They are less likely to be overwhelmed by negative events and more likely to find ways to bounce back after set-backs.
- People who are habitually grateful have more of a sense of self-worth. This is because they are more aware of their supporters, those who help and enhance their daily lives.
- Someone said that gratefulness is the only reliable “get rich quick” method. Gratefulness helps us to recognise all our wealth, not just material wealth.
Why not give it a try?
Sarah.
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