Sunday... Advent 1
Grateful eyes look at each thing as if they had never seen it before and caress it as if they would never see it again.
Looking at things as if you’ve never seen them before, treasuring them as if they were fleeting—this requires slowing down and moving through each moment with trust and anticipation. I look at the eyes of this cat, so obviously aware that something unfamiliar has landed. There is no fear in these eyes. Instead, I see a sense of patient calm. It is as if this visit was expected—the journey began with the hope of experiencing grateful moments. 
On this first Sunday of Advent, readings from the gospels advise that we stay awake with anticipation because something is going to happen, something we don’t want to miss. Without an awareness of each moment, it might be easy to overlook the beauty of a butterfly or the arrival of God among us.
May we stay alert and practice grateful anticipation.
Quote: Br. David Steindl -Rast
from Grateful Org