2021 Christmas Letter from Br. David

+ Dear Relatives and Friends,

the sacred texts of East and West call out to us: “Lift up your eyes!”

At this mid-winter season in the Northern hemisphere, we do lift up our eyes to the starry night sky. In turn, its awesome beauty lifts up our awestruck hearts.

So much, these days, is weighing us down; all the more, we need to raise the eyes of our hearts to the beauty of nature and art that still has power to give us courage.

We need to lift up our eyes beyond what divides us; only united can we tackle our tasks.

Only when we lift up our eyes, do we notice the many opportunities to give joy to others and in giving joy to others, we find joy ourselves.

It takes so little: $50 will make a blind child see.

Courage and unity in tackling our shared tasks, generosity and the joy that flows from it, what better gifts could i wish for all of us on the threshold of 2022?

Let us lift up your eyes, then, and look for the Morningstar dawning.

Your Brother David

Photo: Diego Ortiz Mugica

Br. David Steindl-Rast is the founding advisor of A Network for Grateful Living. He is a Benedictine monk, interfaith pioneer, author, and teacher. You can read more about him and find his extensive online archives here.

If you would like to offer a brief reflection on this letter or a short greeting for Br. David during this season of light, please do so in the space below.

Br. David Steindl-Rast, OSB

Brother David Steindl-Rast — author, scholar, and Benedictine monk — is beloved the world over for his enduring message about gratefulness as the true source of lasting happiness. Known to many as the “grandfather of gratitude,” Br. David has been a source of inspiration and spiritual friendship to countless leaders and luminaries around the world including Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Thomas Merton, and more. He has been one of the most important figures in the modern interfaith dialogue movement, and has taught with thought-leaders such as Eckhart Tolle, Jack Kornfield, and Roshi Joan Halifax. His wisdom has been featured in recent interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Krista Tippett, and Tami Simon and his TED talk has been viewed almost 10,000,000 times. Learn more about Br. David here.

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TopicBr. David Steindl-Rast

Community Conversation

Pamela McRae-Dux

Brother David,

I was putting the letters I received in 2021 in my letter box and came across a card you sent me that encouraged me to publish the book on reflections from your workshops on Kauai ( at the Waipa Foundation). I did publish the book and have given it many times as a gift. I also put it on Amazon. I would really like to send you a copy if I could know the address where you would like to receive this gift.

Blessings +
Pamela McRae-Dux

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Brother David, I was putting the letters I received in 2021 in my letter box and came across a card you sent me that encouraged me to publish the book on reflections from your workshops on Kauai ( at the Waipa Foundation). I did publish the book and have given it many times as a gift. I also put it on Amazon. I would really like to send you a copy if I could know the address where you would like to receive this gift. Blessings + Pamela McRae-Dux

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1. knelson
  
  Good Morning Pamela – Thank you for this lovely offer. If you want to send the wonderful sounding book to me at our office address, I will be happy to forward it to Br. David wherever he is. He will likely either be in Austria or Argentina. We are 245 Russell Street, 21B, Hadley, MA 01035
  
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  Good Morning Pamela - Thank you for this lovely offer. If you want to send the wonderful sounding book to me at our office address, I will be happy to forward it to Br. David wherever he is. He will likely either be in Austria or Argentina. We are 245 Russell Street, 21B, Hadley, MA 01035
  
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  1. Pamela McRae-Dux
    
    I will certainly do that Kristi. I am waiting for an order from Lulu publishing and it should be here soon. I will also include a gift copy for you which you can share with the staff if you wish.
    
    Warm regards,
    Pamela
    
    1
    
    I will certainly do that Kristi. I am waiting for an order from Lulu publishing and it should be here soon. I will also include a gift copy for you which you can share with the staff if you wish. Warm regards, Pamela
    
    Update
    
    Cancel

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