鈥淭he mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven.鈥�鈥� John Milton,
Recently as I watched a travel agent鈥檚 commercial about visiting a paradise island, I thought of the paradise we take for granted every day. Immigrants dream of a place like this and risk their lives and the lives of their families to get here.
And many of us here take for granted so much we have to be thankful for. A litany of gratitude spontaneously broke forth:
Today I had enough to eat. / Thank you God.
Today I was warm. / Thank you God.
Today I saw the sun shine and heard the wind blow. / Thank you God.
Today I smelled a rose. / Thank you God.
Today I whistled. / Thank you God.
Today I slept deeply. / Thank you God.
Today I had no pain. / Thank you God.
Today I could run. / Thank you God.
Today I had clear thoughts. / Thank you God.
Today I laughed. / Thank you God.
Today I could pray. / Thank you God.
Today I prayed for dearly departed. / Thank you God.
Today I dreamed about the future. / Thank you God.
Today I loved. / Thank you God.
Today I felt someone else鈥檚 sadness. / Thank you God.
Today I could sing. / Thank you God.
Today I forgave someone. / Thank you God.
Today I felt peace. / Thank you God.
Today I took deep breaths. / Thank you God.
Today I rested. / Thank you God.
We do not earn these blessings, but God gives them to us out of love
In Psalm 65 King David gives thanks to God.
Praise awaits聽you, our God, in Zion;
to you our vows will be fulfilled.
You who answer prayer,
to you all people will come.
When we were overwhelmed by sins,
you forgave聽our transgressions.
Blessed are those you choose
and bring near聽to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
of your holy temple.
鈥�
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
where morning dawns, where evening fades,
you call forth songs of joy.
You care for the land and water it;
you enrich it abundantly. 鈥�
you soften it with showers聽and bless its crops.
You crown the year with your bounty,
and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
the hills are clothed with gladness.
The meadows are covered with flocks
and the valleys are mantled with grain;
they shout for joy and sing.
Phil Vasser and Craig Michael Wiseman describe 鈥淛ust Another Day in Paradise鈥� -
鈥淭he kids screaming, phone ringing鈥―og barking at the mailman bringing鈥═hat stack of bills, overdue鈥℅ood morning baby, how are you?鈥℅ot a half hour, quick shower鈥═ake a drink of milk but the milk's gone sour鈥∕y funny face makes you laugh鈥═wist the top on and I put it back鈥═here goes the washing machine鈥˙aby, don't kick it.鈥↖ promise I'll fix it鈥↙ong about a million other things
Well, it's ok. It's so nice
It's just another day in paradise
Well, there's no place that
I'd rather be
Well, it's two hearts
And one dream
I wouldn't trade it for anything
And I ask the lord every night
For just another day in paradise鈥�
