Living from Gratitude

As fall settles in and Thanksgiving approaches, I find myself reflecting on wisdom from Diana Butler Bass: “Gratitude is more than an emotion; it is a disposition that can be chosen and cultivated, an outlook toward life that manifests itself in actions — it is an ethic.” (Grateful: The Transformative Power of Giving Thanks, 2018).  

The disposition of gratitude helps us pay attention — to the beauty of leaves turning, to the abundance of the harvest, and to the quiet grace at work in our communities. It’s a way of seeing, of naming the good, and of responding with generosity and hope.  

Lately, that sense of gratitude has been showing up for me in an unexpected place. I recently joined a gym called Orange Theory — a coach-led, group-based fitness program where you monitor your heart rate and try to spend time in the “orange range.” It’s a little like gaming your workout; no two days are the same, and it’s a lot of fun! I often joke that it’s a bit of a cult — but what it really is, is community. They notice you. They welcome you by name. They cheer you on when you’re trying hard and celebrate your effort as much as your success. It helps me to quiet my brain for a time and just be in my body. It’s become an important rhythm in my life — not just for physical well-being, but because it reminds me what it feels like to belong, to be encouraged, and to grow alongside others.  

I wonder what the church might learn from that kind of intentional, joy-filled community. What would it mean if everyone who crossed our threshold was noticed, welcomed, and supported in their growth? What if people felt that same sense of energy and purpose — that same joy in showing up and participating — when they came to worship, to learn, or to serve? What other places in the world offer this kind of teaching for us?  

Those questions feel especially relevant as we continue the national Toward 2035 conversation — a process that will lead to a denomination-wide strategy rooted in both data and discipleship, envisioning a resilient, inspired, multigenerational church that spans this vast country, from rural communities to urban centres, from coast to coast to coast. In many ways, it’s the same invitation: to show up, to grow together, to cheer one another on, and to create spaces where people experience belonging and purpose.  

Last week I had the privilege of attending the annual gathering of the Pacific Mountain Indigenous Ministry and witnessed the raising of a totem honouring Residential School Survivors. It was a powerful reminder that transformation is never a solo act — it happens when people come together with courage, truth, and shared vision.  

Diana Butler Bass reminds us that “when we live from gratitude, we become aware of the gifts of others — and our interdependence with them.” In that sacred gathering, gratitude felt tangible — a recognition of courage offered, truth shared, and the Spirit’s renewal made visible in community. Standing in the crisp autumn air, surrounded by the brilliance of fall colours, I was reminded that new life — whether in our bodies, our communities, or our church — always emerges through connection, courage, and grace.

This season of harvest invites us into a “disposition of gratitude,” to gather what has been fruitful, to release what no longer serves, and to trust that God is already at work preparing the soil for what comes next.  

With gratitude,

Treena Duncan, Executive Minister for Chinook Winds & Pacific Mountain Regions