Spiritual formation is not a spectator sport. We're all players--at least we can be. Thanksgiving is a great time to play!
I think I'd be embarrassed to be visited by the ghosts of Thanksgivings past. They'd show me a million missed opportunities to savor family and friends.
If you know what I mean about Thanksgiving being a verb and would like to DO Thanksgiving this year, here's a really simple practice: We can express gratitude with Generous Listening. We can listen generously.
You probably already know how it works. You've probably met two or three people in your life who've given you the gift of generous listening.
The ingredients are simple--a little curiosity, a little creativity, and a lot of letting go. When somebody else speaks--perhaps particularly somebody that doesn't get listened to enough--tune in. Be curious.
And then quickly (before somebody hijacks the thread) follow up with a genuinely curious question. Then do it again. And maybe even again.
Then do it with somebody else.
Here's where the 'lot of letting go' comes in. It's almost impossible to ask 'good' questions if we're in our usual mode of listening--tuned in to our usual random thoughts. We have to let go and let go and let go of these in order to make room for curiosity and creativity and generosity. If we can't let go of our own threads, we're very unlikely to be able to recognize and invite others to explore theirs.
Of course, conversation in most family dinners is random and kind of chaotic. Don't expect a lot of success.
Though even a little can make a difference. And if nothing else, generous listening keeps those of us who practice it more lively than lethargic.
Happy Thanksgiving!
