Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for green grass. Few things show lush goodness like new grass in the springalmostsummer season. Springalmostsummer grass is the landing spot for cartwheels gone awry, the humble cushion for picnics and the silent scrubber of the air we breathe. Thousands of these slim, green blades grow together to provide soft, cool relief for soles tiptoeing across hot pavement. I'm thankful for the symbolism of green grass, too. Our lives are much like that ol' adage about grass: we're sown, grown, mown and gone. We are small; we must grow together to make an impact; we are here but a season.

Others have seen the symbolism, too.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourishes. For the wind passes over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
Psalm 103:15-16

What is life? It is a flash of a firefly in the night. It is a breath of a buffalo in the winter time. It is as the little shadow that runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset.
Crowfoot, Blackfoot Tribal Chief

For we are only of yesterday and know nothing, Because our days on earth are as a shadow.
Job 8:9

So what of this grass-life connection?

Every blade of grass has its angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow."
The Talmud

That's what this season is about. That's what today is about.

Growing versus lolling. Reaching versus sitting. Living versus televisioning.

This week I was lucky enough to watch a Kyrie blog follower in what I like to call her "blessed zone." It is the activity where she and God commune, where her gift is actively expressed, where she feels most complete, most like herself. She is fully aware that her ability to dance is her gift, and when she uses this gift, she says that it is her prayer. When you see something like this—this union of the seen and unseen in its active form—it is breathtaking.

I like to think it's always better to wear out your shoes than your couch. This season is so short. This life is so short. Please take this season to grow.

I am thankful for growth, but not just hindsight "growth." That's obvious. I'm thankful for growing, what's happening right now, today. I'm thankful for the active growth that is happening in you as you read this sentence. What is your motivation right now? What are you going to do right now? How are you going to live right now? What are you growing right now?

What are you thankful for today?