I am signing in a little later than usual. I awakened this morning with the need to take a little time out. Have you ever had a morning like that? I needed a mini-vacation, so I went to the river and hung out with God. The geese and the river otters send their blessings.

Blessings… all of us are experiencing so many, but they can be easy to overlook. It baffles me that as human beings, we seem to have a much easier time seeing what is wrong than what is right. We notice the flaws in ourselves and others, in our homes, in our bodies, rather than spending our days counting our blessings. I have decided that it doesn’t have to be that way. And so, no matter what dark cloud is before me, I choose to look for, and find, the silver lining. I consciously use the Law of Expectancy for my own peace of mind and heart. I have made the great discovery that it is nothing more than a choice that takes me from the perception of hell to the pearly gates of heaven.

Ernest Holmes, founder of the Science of Mind and Spirit, defines hell as “a discordant state of being. A belief in duality. A sense of separation from God. A belief that our good is always to be, and never is.” He goes on to define heaven as “a state of happiness.” He tells us that heaven and hell are states of mind and that we have absolute control over which one we will choose. So why do we so often choose hell when heaven is so much more beautiful, joyful, and fulfilling? It’s one of life’s great mysteries.

With this in mind, I have decided to offer my Top 10 ways of walking through heaven’s gate right here and now.

1. I open my eyes, literally, and give thanks for their ability to take in  the beauty around me.
2. I step into my backyard and give thanks for my ears that allow me to hear the birdsong.
3. I open my refrigerator and give thanks for the amazing number of choices I have for nourishing my body.
4. I step into my shower and give thanks for the hot and cold running water that cleanse my body.
5. I sit in my comfortable chair and give thanks for the sanctuary of home.
6. I stand up again and give thanks for a strong, healthy body that allows me to move from place to place.
7. I consider and give thanks for my car and the safe and dependable transportation it offers.
8. I consider and give thanks for the freedom I enjoy as a citizen of this beautiful country.
9. I consider and give thanks for my right to worship God in any way I choose, or not to worship at all.
10. I give deep and profound thanks for the love of my family, friends, pets, plants,  and other community members; and for the love I offer in return as we seek to serve one another and to live peacefully together as both local and global community.

Could it really be that easy? Yes. Call me Pollyanna if you must. My world is a beautiful place and my life, while not without its challenges and times of darkness, is an amazing life. It’s time for me to acknowledge the Grace and give abundant thanks.

As I prepare to close for today, the word shelter is running through my mind. It has been used a great deal lately, and carries a connotation of needing to find safety from danger. As I walked home from my adventure this morning, I considered how much more pleasant and peaceful the word sanctuary sounds. It, too, carries the connotation of safety, but its original definition goes back to finding or creating a sacred space. I have chosen sanctuary at home, rather than sheltering…just offering the comparison as a contemplation as you move into the second half of your day.

May we be aware of all we have been given…may we count our blessings.

May we all be well…stay in touch…know our unity…and thrive!

And may we know the Absolute Beauty and Wonder of this Grace-filled, once-in-a lifetime day…