Chancellor Kent Syverud | Syracuse University
Chancellor Kent Syverud | Syracuse University
During the holiday season, people often gather with loved ones to celebrate and reflect on the past year. This time of reflection can also be an opportunity to consider gratitude's role in our lives. SU News consulted several chaplains at Hendricks Chapel to explore what gratitude means in different faith traditions, its importance, and how it can be expressed.
Rabbi Ethan Bair emphasized that "Jews are all about gratitude," noting that the Hebrew word for Jews shares a root with the word for gratitude. He explained that daily prayers and Shabbat are times when Jewish people express their thankfulness.
Sensei JoAnn Cooke discussed how Buddhist practice involves awareness of "the Three Poisons: greed, anger, and delusions." She noted that expressing gratitude helps transform these poisons by fostering satisfaction, openness to challenges, and clarity about one's identity.
Imam Amir Durić highlighted the significance of gratitude in Islam through terms like hamd and shukr. He stated that "gratitude is essential because it keeps our hearts connected to the source of all goodness" and suggested various ways to express it, such as acts of kindness and prayer.
Sanjay Mathur described gratitude as a sacred obligation in Hinduism. He explained that reflecting on positive experiences can improve emotional well-being by focusing on what one has rather than lacks.
Sophia Perez shared that in her Christian Protestant tradition, gratitude involves pausing to thank God for blessings. She mentioned simple expressions like words of thanks or helping others as ways to show appreciation.
Rev. Jee Hae Song spoke about Thanksgiving's role in highlighting blessings within the United Methodist tradition. She encouraged reading Creation Psalms to remember God's provisions.
Father Gerry Waterman referenced St. Francis of Assisi's view of gratitude as "the most perfect prayer" and Pope Francis's belief that it can make the world better. He recommended acknowledging others' presence with gestures like smiles or thank-you notes.
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