Soul Training
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butterflies
a stranger’s smile
longtime friends
my dog wagging its tail,
parents loving their kids
happy to see me
Christmas
music
enriching conversations
clean socks
the Bible
the “Hallelujah Chorus”
scientists who discover
mentors
amazing things
a child’s hugs
chocolate
how my mind opens to new
talented people who
understandings when I travel
are humble
the silencing of false rumors
air conditioning
the great hymns
artists
I hope that this listing exercise will not be just a one-time exercise but a new, ongoing habit that turns into a lifestyle. Musician and author David Crowder writes:
When good is found13 and we embrace it with abandon, we embrace the Giver of it. . . . Every second is an opportunity to praise. There is a choosing to be made. A choosing at each moment. This is the Praise Habit. Finding God moment by revelatory moment, in the sacred and the mundane, in the valley and on the hill, in triumph and tragedy, and living praise erupting because of it. That is what we were made for.
I believe he is right. When we are grateful for something as ordinary as “curiosity,” we are offering praise to God. In every single moment we have an opportunity to find something worth being amazed by. The more we do it, the more likely it will become a habit, and eventually we will find ourselves doing it without thinking. We will become, as Augustine said, “An Alleluia from head to toe.”
Whether you are going through this material alone or with others, the following questions might be helpful as you reflect on your experience. Either way, it might be a good idea to answer these questions in your journal. If you are meeting with a group, bring your journal with you to help you remember your insights as you share your experiences.
1. Were you able to make a list of your blessings this week? If so, did you find it difficult? Why?
2. What, if anything, did you learn about God or yourself through the exercise?
3. What were some of the things that made your list that surprised you? Why?