Gratitude: Your Role

Michigan City Lighthouse: photo by the author. Share and share alike https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

Gratitude takes attention; it requires self-awareness and reflection. A deep breath, a look around, and acknowledgement of the beauty that surrounds us, whether we are looking at home gardens or further afield at more dramatic locales showcasing the beauty of the earth. It’s easier to encounter the sublime in mountains or shore, canyons, cliffs, and skylines. It is more challenging to acknowledge magnificence in slugs eating lettuce.

Michigan City Marina with Generating Station visible: photo by the author. Share and share alike https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_City_Generating_Station

We’ve asked members of the church community to post about their favorite places, the places close by and far-flung, where they feel rejuvenation and wholeness. While Hilary is hiking Pacific Northwest forest trails, familiar Green Mountain passes, and overseas landscapes, members of the Good Shepherd community are encouraged to share travelogues and pictures, reflections and thoughts as they enjoy travels and staycations, as well as imaginary or inspirational destinations; where we would like to see and be. Students at home for the summer, at internships, study abroad destinations, or simply traveling are encouraged to check in with posts and reflections as well. There are no rules; there’s no way to do this right or wrong. Post what you have; post what you love; post where you are. Post. Please.

Indiana Dunes State Park: photo by the author. Share and share alike https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

The pictures on this page are from a recent trip my family took to Indiana Dunes on Lake Michigan. Water, whether the salty ocean or the inland seas of the Great Lakes or locally the Wabash River and Wildcat Creek bring me peace and invite my mind to relax and let go of worries and anxieties. I grew up on the east coast and I like to complain that the sweet fresh waters of Lake Michigan smell wrong: there's no salty tang and the breeze carries different scents. But the shifting waters and crunchy sand under my feet bring me back to when my family headed out to Point Lookout Beach on Long Island, New York, or neighboring Jones Beach. And my mind unwinds.

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