Contagion

The demeanor we maintain says a lot about who we are at the deepest core or our being. Whether it be spoken or unspoken thoughts, actions, or even reactions, how we go about each moment tells the story of our personal identity and presents indicators of the perspective we preserve for life itself.

While working through several literary works, a common theme threads them all... gratefulness. At first thought, 'gratefulness' seems easy enough and almost amateur; by no means is the term a novel one. However, upon reflection there is so much more than the blurb found in Webster. Gratefulness, when given time, manifests into a paradigm. It represents a humble outlook generated by acknowledging one's own needs beyond the grasp of self-fulfillment. This same gratefulness surfaces as human depravity becomes clearer. While it often begins with maybe a "thank you," the attitutde can potentially develop into a way of life.

On a daily basis, each of us cross opportunities to express gratefulness, but do we seek them? Really and truly... is this the lens used to sift through the moments? Most of us probably would like to say yes, but in reality, and in all honesty, the answers would be no.

Gratefulness as a demeanor, as a way of life, takes effort. Like other things in life, something upheld as a priority requires time to foster development. This in fact is not much different. Gratefulness grows with discipline, then the habit forms, which pervades life itself. Gratefulness as a paradigm extends beyond circumstances so even when we walk through our valleys, a thankful spirit perseveres.

But such a nature extends beyond us and our 'bubble' of space. While some people will stand on their rights as an individual and argue the very essence of their finite existence, demeanor affects those in our surroundings. Contagion!! Community, fellowship, relationship... we thrive in number.

Keeping this in mind, how differently would we think and respond if all of us pursued a path to affect others in a positive way? How differently would we interact with others if we considered what our words or actions communicated regarding the state or our soul, the very essence of all we are and hope to be? Leaving you with one final question...

What contagion do you instigate?


"A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." -Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)