UPFRONT November 16, 2009 Issue

A 'PERFECT PRAYER'

JENNY NELLES, STAFF EDITOR

"One single grateful thought raised to heaven is the most perfect prayer." So goes the quote by G. E Lessing. I have this quote on a bookmark. Many times, it falls out from well-worn pages when my thoughts need lifting.

Perhaps the reason why this rings true as more than a snappy saying, is that there's actually a way to prove the efficacy of gratitude—as the articles in our cover section point out. Gratitude isn't about masking discontent; it's about recognizing the present power of God's goodness that infuses our lives.

Even Mehlenbacher shares in the Sentinel's lead piece: "The effect of being grateful is similar to airing out a musty room. The more fresh air you pour in, the better the atmosphere. ... Gratitude is love in action. It shows that you're not always thinking about yourself" (page 8). He goes on to say that it's "not a duty we should feel obligated to perform, but an act of grace we should be eager to share" and "expressing gratitude keeps us out of the dark hole of self-absorption" (page 8).

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