Wednesday dinner at the half-way house

Today is the Fourth of July, Independence Day, though none of us is really independent, even though we like to pretend we are.  Oh, Catharine, there you go again (I can hear it).   

Today I am grateful for the independence I do have, but most of all the interdependence I share with family and church and friends, the ability to do the things God would have me do, to be who God has made me to be, alongside those I share this thing called Life.  With God*s help, I choose life every day, every minute, even in the ten minutes slated at the end of Wednesday dinner, even though I am an intern, and gratefulness statements are only for the house residents to make.

On Wednesday

Dinner at the half-way house includes

Ten minutes of gratefulness

At the end.

The men practice learning

How to notice

Small things.

And big.

They learn to be glad for both,

Speak them out loud

For everyone to hear

While they eat dessert.

As each one finishes talking,

There is a chorus of

Thank You.

On Wednesday,

During dessert,

The men learn

How to give particular thanks

In a way that may lead

To continued health

If they choose to continue

To notice.

Every Wednesday,

Each man introduces himself,

Gives particular thanks

And everyone else says

Thank You.