Stop, Look, Go

As part of our Grateful Gatherings curriculum we learned about the practice of Stop, Look, Go. Here is a link on grateful.org to hear about this practice.  This week I encourage you to consider incorporating this gratitude practice.

As we reflected on the gospel reading Matthew 21:23-32 (this is the Message translation) in our early morning bible study, I was reminded of how powerful it is to pause, to look and to listen. As we listened and reflected together on this scripture,  I heard a message that can be taken from the parable- it is about doing/going. So to look at the first two parts of the practice before the “going”.

First to Stop. To first pause and catch my breath is always a great reminder. To practice gratitude for what is and be in this moment. I was concerned that the challenges of this coming Sunday’s reading would perplex me and then… I was reminded to stop. To practice gratitude even when things seem so overwhelming. So to be in the moment

Then to Look. To see what is right here and right now. To look around and hold onto what I discover in that moment and carry it into the next.

And then it is time to Go. To take action. To go and live. Taking what I have discovered through this gratitude, I let this inform how I live.

During this morning’s bible study one person shared about what they hear as the clear message Jesus shares over and over again. Love God completely. Love your neighbor as yourself. This means to love God with our body, mind, spirit and strength. Then to love our neighbor AS ourself with all our body, mind, spirit, and strength. That call to love is the “go”.

Consider taking the invitation to stop, look and go. STOP and appreciate. LOOK at all that is and in the midst of all of “it”— whatever “it” is practice gratitude for it. Then GO. Live out this love for God in the ways you love your neighbors and yourself.