Diana Butler Bass continues an important conversation in her newest book Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks.
When my stepson, was four years old his dad (Marcus Borg) had just gotten a doctorate degree. But Dane also knew that it was different from being a doctor doctor. “My daddy is a doctor now,” he was overheard telling one of his friends. “But that doesn’t mean he can help anybody.”
Diana Butler Bass
Diana has a doctor’s degree in religious studies. And she can help anybody. She has long taken the pulse of the health and ills of the church, our social and cultural worlds, Christian theology and ethics. And she has proven to be a keen diagnostician by using directly or indirectly the three great questions of the quest for the “holy grail”: What do you seek, what ails you, and what or whom do you serve?
In Grateful she indirectly probes those questions as she explores the interplay of personal and public expressions of gratitude and experiences of gratitude as feeling and action. Her book is both a wise “self-help” book and a poignant reflection on political theology.
To prompt your interest.
Gratitude builds Resilience
Diana insists we cannot live without gratitude. It is an emotion and awareness that is deeply hard wired in us. It is indicative of our humanity. Even as the practice of gratitude may take time. Gratitude literally is good for your heart and good for your health. It builds resilience.
Gratitude also has a shadow side. Empires are built on structures of gratitude and structures of privilege. As bestowers of “gifts” empire establishes structures of indebtedness. Which fuel cultures of resentment. Diana provides an insightful and important description of this “false form of gratitude” which is pyramidal by design. This analysis alone is worth the book.
Related to this analysis she does the best exegesis of the story of Zacchaeus I have ever heard. I am sure Zacchaeus will be the name of her next dog.
The Power Pyramid
An antidote to the quid pro quo of structures of gratitude. Diana quotes David Steindl-Rast: “If you’re grateful, you’re not fearful, and if you’re not fearful, you’re not violent… and that changes this power pyramid under which we live.” Diana goes on to develop an ethics of community and politics.
I learned many things from this book. Including that there is a World Gratitude Day. It was established September 21, 1965. In Hawaii. I had no idea.
Diana connects first- rate scholarship and a deep understanding of spirituality and spiritual practice and brings them into the public square. Which is exactly where we need them.
Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks is a text and model of resilience and resistance. It is a delight to read, informative, evocative, and for followers of Diana it is the perfect sequel to Grounded: Finding God in the World, A Spiritual Revolution.
Enjoy her book(s). And let them be part of continuing the conversation.
Full disclosure: Diana and I are friends. What’s more, we’re relatives. Our Glen of Imaal terriers are siblings.
Public Service Announcement:
Diana Butler Bass will be exploring her book GRATEFUL at
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Kempton Hall,
147 NW 19th Avenue, Portland, Oregon
Thursday, March 10, 2018 at 7:00 pm.
The event is FREE. All are welcome. See you there!
