Bach and Philosophical Friday

The Natural Arrival of Gratitude

The storm last night tore through my roofing in a couple of places, and I awoke to wet plaster stripes down my kitchen wall and a puddle creeping dangerously toward an un-fired sculpture of a woman in prayer. 

My initial reaction was accompanied by a heavy sigh: fix first and ask questions later. To accomplish this I put on a one-hour-and-twenty-minute video of Glen Gould playing Bach and got to furious work.

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Keeping the negative thoughts at bay was not easy. 

• I've got to get my own house!
• This place is such a dump...
• How much is this going to cost me?
• Who made such faulty mistakes tarring the roof?
• People really should take more care.

On that note I witnessed a foul mood trying to grab me by the heart, and instead of listening to chatter my negative mind had created, I chose instead to focus on the sublimity of the music. Before I knew it, I was done cleaning up the mess both externally and internally, and a graceful rush of gratitude flooded my body, rendering me to pose like my statue not long for the kiln, and I bowed in prayer. In Thanks. 

• I have a roof (if a bit leaky in three little spots) over my head.
• An artist's house in never grand, I am true to my craft
• I'm sure the village maintenance will take care of the roof
• It's probably just wear and tear and time for a small reno
• People take as much care as they are able

Many more opportunities to give thanks then showed themselves, and I spent the rest of my "Bach Time" reflecting on the capacity of an open heart, and writing this article.

I wish our readers a warm (and dry!) Shabbat shalom. May you start each day with a grateful heart.

Send your personal experience of gratitude to:
onthemovejerusalem@gmail.com