TEXAS FAITH: Why should we be thankful?

Thanksgiving is a day to pull ourselves together and tie up the loose ends of life. Through the year we receive a lot of good from others in the form of words and actions, and many a times it is a one way transaction and remains incomplete.

http://theghousediary.blogspot.com/2011/11/texas-faith-why-should-we-be-thankful.html

TEXAS FAITH: Why should we be thankful?

Bill McKenzie of Dallas Morning News asks, “why should we be thankful? And what should we be thankful for, either personally or at the larger national/global level?” 13 Texas Faith Panelists respond.

MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas

Why should we be thankful?

Whether it is life or the matter, every aspect of creation is programmed to find its own balance for sustainability.

Those individuals who achieve balance in life are the happiest ones. Indeed, our happiness is directly dependent on fulfillment of our desires; lesser fulfillment yields discontentment.

So, the Buddha says, fewer the desires, lesser the sorrow!

Thanksgiving is a day to pull ourselves together and tie up the loose ends of life. Through the year we receive a lot of good from others in the form of words and actions, and many a times it is a one way transaction and remains incomplete.

For every good we receive, we have to offer our gratitude to the giver. Absence of a simple thank you creates an imbalance in the relationship and the spiritual energy. A mere thank you will tie the loose ends and restores the balance.

For every hurt we hurl on others, an equal amount of energy is depleted from us, and until we say sorry and repent genuinely, the energy balance remains low and the transaction remains incomplete.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. As a spiritualist, I believe that for every wrong we do, an equal amount of energy is drained down from us and for every good we do, energy is recouped.

Life is a continual act of balancing between pain and pleasure. To lead a normal life, we have to maintain that equilibrium.

We are constantly receiving and giving energy, intake and output must be equal to have a healthy mindset. Otherwise, we are thrown off balance.

Ask Bill Gates whom God has blessed; he probably would say not enough! Ask the homeless, the answer would still be the same; not enough. Who has enough then?

Walk the Middle path, said Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), just have enough desires that you can fulfill them, happiness sticks with you. My mother used to say "don't stretch your feet beyond your sheet." In other words, stay within your means. Every faith and every family is enriched with such an advice.

More than any other holiday Thanksgiving brings Americans together despite their religion, culture or ethnicity. Everyone from an atheist to a Zoroastrian finds the time to be with family.

This particular tradition generates a sense of family cohesion. It's about catching up with each other, eating and watching the football game together. Indeed, it keeps the whole family together for most part of the day.

The bigger part of Thanksgiving is caring. It is a day to feel kindness towards those who are struggling with difficulties of life. It's a catalyst in uplifting our spirits and ought to bring out the best in us to relate with others.

Please carry a small piece of paper with you and whenever you find a quiet moment, make a list of all the people you want to thank. You will find a sense of relief in it.

Even if you don't call everyone on the list, you have already said your thanks by thinking about them. The tension of the action (good done to you) is released with your re-action of thinking about them or writing their name down and possibly calling them.

I thank every soul for contributing to my positive energy.

Thirteen more opinions including the above can be read at :
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/11/texas-faith-why-should-we-be-t.html

 Mike Ghouse is committed to building a cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day to the media and the public. He is a speaker thinker and a writer on the topics of pluralism, cohesive societies, Politics, Islam, interfaith, India and Peace. Over a thousand articles have been published on the topics and two of his books are poised to be released on Pluralism and Islam. Mike's work is reflected in 4 website's and 27 Blogs indexed at http://www.mikeghouse.net/ and you can find all of his current articles at www.TheGhousediary.com