In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s harvest season. Granted, it’s always time to harvest our blessings, and many spiritual practices include the daily recounting of things we are grateful for. During this time of the year, many spiritual traditions and cultures beg us to count our blessings out loud—to give the harvest a sound and visible witness in the world.

Preparing for our next visit with a spiritual director is also a perfect time to reflect on what God has planted in our lives during the past year, and to notice what God is harvesting. You might ask yourself (or reflect with a spiritual directee):

• Through the eyes of God, how am I seeing conflict anew and becoming a peacemaker in our world, in my neighborhood, and in my family?

• Using God’s ears, how am I learning to listen to the needs of the forgotten and displaced and respond with compassion?

• With the nose of God, which direction is the sacred scent of the Spirit inviting me to move in, not necessarily knowing where the scent may lead, yet trusting God’s direction anyway?

Focusing on our earthy senses facilitates paying attention to God’s ripening fruit in our lives. But what if it is hard to see or hear anything? That’s why it helps to meet regularly with a spiritual director, an anam cara soul companion who contemplatively looks, listens, and sniffs along with us for evidence of God’s grace.

 It can also be helpful to watch the sights, sounds, and smells created by others as inspiration for noticing God’s harvest in our own lives. In a spirit of collaboration and celebration, these resources may help you contemplate harvest with a grateful heart.

• Brother David Steindl-Rast, OSB, created two contemplative videos about harvesting gratefulness in every day. If he intrigues you and speaks to your senses, considering meeting him in person. He will be a plenary presenter during the Spiritual Directors International April 2010 “Gratefulness: the Heart of Spiritual Care” conference.

• Joanna Macy created a beautiful reflection on gratitude, shared earlier on the Spiritual Directors International blog.

Please let us know what you are harvesting in your spiritual life, and if you have other resources that inspire you to contemplate gratefulness.

Add your resources or comment on what you are harvesting by replying in the comment section. Thank you!