Gratitude | Notes Along the Path

The pictures from Japan could hardly be more heartbreaking and the frequency of truly major disasters has everyone asking, “Could we be next?” No one would choose an earthquake or tsunami or hurricane or flooding, but they’re touching every part of the planet now. Maybe now is a good time to make peace within ourselves and with others, so that if we are struck by a disaster, we’re more prepared to make our crossing into the Light.

I was reading this morning from The Thirteen Original Clan Mothers by Jamie Sams, the chapter of Gives Praise, the Clan Mother of the twelfth moon cycle. She teaches us how important gratitude is to a joy-filled life, for the great wheel of experience turns to the next cycle only when we are thankful in the present cycle. We learn to express gratitude for the hard times because we develop inner strength through them, and for our blessings which, when shared, makes room for the great wheel to turn again to a cycle of abundance.

Waiting in the service department at a car dealer’s, I read and watched as a TV news channel reported on what was happening in Japan. I would have doubted anyone could be expressing gratitude in Japan right now, if not for the personal letter from Japan that Michael Brine forwarded to me in an email. I share it because it is quite moving, and also a template for how to act from our hearts in the wake of a disaster.

Note from Michael Brine: Received this from a friend of a friend. It’s pretty illuminating. I can’t help but wonder if this happened to us in North America if we would act with such calmness and compassion as is being demonstrated here. Hhhhmmm, I wonder. Some learning here.

Note from Michael’s friend of a friend: From my cousin, in Sendai, Japan where she has lived for the past decade teaching English. Very moving!!

Hello My Lovely Family and Friends,

First I want to thank you so very much for your concern for me. I am very touched. I also wish to apologize for a generic message to you all. But it seems the best way at the moment to get my message to you.

Things here in Sendai have been rather surreal. But I am very blessed to have wonderful friends who are helping me a lot. Since my shack is even more worthy of that name, I am now staying at a friend’s home. We share supplies like water, food and a kerosene heater. We sleep lined up in one room, eat by candlelight, share stories. It is warm, friendly, and beautiful.

During the day we help each other clean up the mess in our homes. People sit in their cars, looking at news on their navigation screens, or line up to get drinking water when a source is open. If someone has water running in their home, they put out sign so people can come to fill up their jugs and buckets.

Utterly amazingly–where I am there has been no looting, no pushing in lines. People leave their front door open, as it is safer when an earthquake strikes. People keep saying, “Oh, this is how it used to be in the old days when everyone helped one another.”

Quakes keep coming. Last night they struck about every 15 minutes. Sirens are constant and helicopters pass overhead often.

We got water for a few hours in our homes last night, and now it is for half a day. Electricity came on this afternoon. Gas has not yet come on. But all of this is by area. Some people have these things, others do not. No one has washed for several days. We feel grubby, but there are so much more important concerns than that for us now. I love this peeling away of non-essentials. Living fully on the level of instinct, of intuition, of caring, of what is needed for survival, not just of me, but of the entire group.

There are strange parallel universes happening. Houses a mess in some places, yet then a house with futons or laundry out drying in the sun. People lining up for water and food, and yet a few people out walking their dogs. All happening at the same time.

Other unexpected touches of beauty are first, the silence at night. No cars. No one out on the streets. And the heavens at night are scattered with stars. I usually can see about two, but now the whole sky is filled.

The mountains are Sendai are solid and with the crisp air we can see them silhouetted against the sky magnificently.

And the Japanese themselves are so wonderful. I come back to my shack to check on it each day, now to send this e-mail since the electricity is on, and I find food and water left in my entranceway. I have no idea from whom, but it is there. Old men in green hats go from door to door checking to see if everyone is OK. People talk to complete strangers asking if they need help. I see no signs of fear. Resignation, yes, but fear or panic, no.

They tell us we can expect aftershocks, and even other major quakes, for another month or more. And we are getting constant tremors, rolls, shaking, rumbling. I am blessed in that I live in a part of Sendai that is a bit elevated, a bit more solid than other parts. So, so far this area is better off than others. Last night my friend’s husband came in from the country, bringing food and water. Blessed again.

Somehow at this time I realize from direct experience that there is indeed an enormous Cosmic evolutionary step that is occurring all over the world right at this moment. And somehow as I experience the events happening now in Japan, I can feel my heart opening very wide. My brother asked me if I felt so small because of all that is happening. I don’t. Rather, I feel as part of something happening that much larger than myself. This wave of birthing (worldwide) is hard, and yet magnificent.

Thank you again for your care and Love of me. With Love in return, to you all.

More information on Earth Changes from Dana Mrkich, www.danamrkich.com