The gratitude barometer

The real accomplishment, the progression of events is progress in our outlook. A gratitude for life that is not the result but the beginning of wisdom, an understanding that Life is continuous and good not matter what the circumstances, a love for others that takes the dignity and meaning of every one seriously into account. Inner peace that is less susceptible to tremor, patience that has deep roots, respect for others that is not compromised.

So when dealing with a physical challenge, a financial burden, a relationship in distress, a wonky job, I have found it heartening and empowering to watch the gratitude barometer instead of the progress on the physical level or the relationship situation. Watching the gratitude barometer means to pay close attention to the level of gratitude in my heart and understanding. It shifts the focus away from observing human steps of development, physical improvement, or betterment of a relationship to our own part of the situation. And that is where the discipline in watching the gratitude barometer kicks in.

There are lovely old-fashioned wooden barometers - weather houses as they are called in the Blackforest in Southern Germany - which signal rain or sunshine with the help of little figurines, measuring the barometric pressure and helping you to know whether an umbrella or a sunhat will be needed. The gratitude barometer measures the rain or sunshine in your heart and shows you what to do, spuring you to listen with more patience to Love's message, watching with more alertness the light of Spirit being displayed and taking a practical stand against dark clouds prefiguring rain and mist in the mental atmosphere of thought.

This gratitude barometer is the result of my close and continuous study of the wonderful book "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" by Mary Baker Eddy. This book reveals God and creation as purely spiritual, it gives words to eternal truths, guides and counsels and inspires, and it shows us what needs to be done in order to heal ourselves and others. Here she asks three very important questions, on pages 3 and 9:

"Are we really grateful for the good already received?"
 
"The test of all prayer lies in the answer to these questions: Do we love our neighbor better because of this asking? Do we pursue the old selfishness, satisfied with having prayed for something better, though we give no evidence of the sincerity of our requests by living consistently with our prayer?"

So here you have it: The gratitude barometer shows us where our thought should rest, what needs to be monitored, and where the real action, the healing activity, is really taking place. Watching the gratitude barometer instead of human progress has made a huge difference in many healings, and it continues to be the measure of improvement. Gratitude means always being ready to acknowledge good. Always.