tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11422779.post-1127737458793051452005-09-26T08:23:00.000-04:002005-09-26T08:24:18.830-04:00Gratitude is often viewed as something basic to a religious or spiritual orientation toward life. The practice of praying before a meal in some families, Thanksgiving as a holiday in America… these are two common examples from my culture of giving thanks to God. (I must say, I’ve wondered how Native Americans feel about Thanksgiving as a holiday, but this would be a major digression…).<br /><br />What are your thoughts about religious or spiritual gratitude – toward God, life, a “higher power” – however you conceive of it?<br /><br />For example: Do you consider anything that occurs in your life and which brings you some benefit or fulfills some desire, a “blessing,” or something for which you “praise God?” If not, what distinctions do you make? Where do you draw the lines?<br /><br />And in what terms do you understand those who are not similarly blessed, and those to whom terrible things happen?Paulnoreply@blogger.com