Without Asking

One of the best things in life, for me, is to receive something without asking for it. I am talking about things I wish for, things I long for, things I only dream about in quiet corners of my heart. Things that suddenly and mystifyingly are placed in my hands without my ever having to have whispered my desire for them.

A good part of our lives is spent thinking about the things we want. Tangible evidence of success, symbols of having finally arrived, materialistic validations. I am not talking about these things, these things many of us want. I am talking about those things that cannot be purchased, cannot be captured. I am talking about things truly given, given freely. Given without reservation and without a request for a return. Given with an open hand and and open heart. Given without our ever having to ask.

For the giver of such things, the inherent satisfaction of this gifting is immeasurable. The giving is the key, the giving over to another person without their asking is an exercise many do not endeavor. So much is at stake as these gifts come from within, these gifts are part of ones own self. There is risk involved. No one wants to discover their gift unwanted, unneeded. No one wants to realize they've misread, misunderstood, misstepped. Certainly.

For the recipient of such a wondrous gift, a gift that comes without the asking, the experience is sublime. It is no small gesture. It's magnitude can be astounding especially when the likelihood of such a gift is far removed from ones existence. The realization that one has received such a gift can call ones worthiness into question. Do we deserve such bountiful joy? Are we worthy, truly worthy of such simple and heartfelt generosity, worthy of what's been given?

Of course there are times that in our own preoccupation we might not realize that something so precious has been left for us. We miss the sweet gesture, it arrives almost unnoticed for a time. Then suddenly we see it, we realize that it's there. Without having to ask...it's there. Placed in our hands with tender care.

How does one say thank you for such gifts given ?

We say it with affection, with humility and with the full measure of it's intentions returned. We say it often, we say it out loud, we say it until we are told to stop.

Then we say it some more.

Indeed.