The Mist That Reveals

There’s a particular quiet that settles in a place filled with gratitude, much like the fog that rolls through a jungle at dawn. It drifts slowly, blanketing everything it touches, softening the edges of the world. This fog, like gratitude itself, doesn’t change the landscape, but it transforms how we see it. The dense jungle remains the same beneath the mist, yet in this softened light, we begin to notice things we might otherwise overlook—the gentle rustling of leaves, the hidden vines twined around branches, the way the world hums with quiet life.

This morning mist calls us to pause, to pay attention, to see the world anew. Gratitude has the same effect on our lives. It doesn’t alter our circumstances but shifts our vision, urging us to notice the quiet blessings that are always present yet easily ignored. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are reminded, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Gratitude isn’t simply a response to life’s gifts; it’s an invitation to see with fresh eyes, finding beauty even in the mundane.

The Hidden Purpose of the Humble Mushroom

Nature has countless examples of things that serve essential purposes, though we may wait to see their value. Consider the humble mushroom, often hidden at the base of trees or scattered across the forest floor. To many, mushrooms seem insignificant, even strange, but they play a vital role in the ecosystem. Underground, their mycelium networks help break down decaying matter, returning nutrients to the soil and enabling trees and plants to flourish. In this quiet, hidden way, mushrooms sustain life all around them.

Gratitude is a lot like those hidden networks of mycelium. It operates beneath the surface, nurturing our spirits, grounding us in thankfulness, and enriching our relationships. Like mushrooms, they may go unnoticed by others, but their effects are profound, influencing how we see and engage with the world. In fact, studies in positive psychology indicate that regular expressions of gratitude can increase well-being and even improve physical health (Emmons & McCullough, 2003). When we choose gratitude, we engage in a quiet but powerful transformation, turning our focus away from what we lack and instead appreciating the abundance we already possess.

The Beauty of Small Moments

When we embrace gratitude, life becomes fuller and more vibrant. We begin to notice the things we would otherwise rush past—like how sunlight filters through leaves or the warmth of a cup of coffee on a cold morning. These seemingly small and unremarkable moments accumulate to fill our lives with richness and wonder. Gratitude slows us down, helping us see not just the big moments but the quiet, sustaining ones, the background details that create the fabric of our lives.

Imagine walking through a mist-covered jungle. The fog settles thick, wrapping around everything, drawing your gaze closer. You can’t see far ahead, but you notice more deeply what is around you: the beads of dew on leaves, the intricate veins in each frond, the layers of green stretching up to the hidden canopy. Gratitude does this for us, urging us to be present, savor the details, and find joy in the now.

In Psalm 100:4, we are invited to “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Gratitude helps us enter a sacred space where every moment and every detail can be a reason for praise. This perspective encourages us to live with open hands, receptive to life’s beauty and challenges.

Discovering Grace in the Ordinary

When we walk in gratitude, we find that even our challenges hold unexpected blessings. Just as the fog obscures the landscape but reveals hidden beauty in close range, gratitude can transform how we see our hardships. Difficulty at work is building resilience, or a season of waiting teaches us patience and trust. Research by Brene Brown in her work on vulnerability also highlights that gratitude is closely tied to joy; it’s a practice that opens us to seeing value in the ordinary, fostering resilience even in times of hardship (Brown, 2010). Gratitude helps us know the grace woven through all parts of our lives, not only in the apparent blessings but in the subtle ones, too.

These shifts in perspective often reveal life’s hidden purposes, which we might not understand at first glance. Our lives, like nature, are filled with purposes and patterns that are only visible when we look closely. The beauty of gratitude is that it teaches us to look and find God’s hand in every part of our lives, in our joys and struggles.

Embracing Gratitude Every Day

Just as the mist brings out the richness of the jungle, gratitude brings out the fullness of life. It reminds us that every day and moment has gifts waiting to be uncovered. Choosing gratitude means embracing life with an open heart, willing to see even the most minor details as blessings. We may not always understand the significance of each one, just as we might overlook the purpose of a mushroom or the role of the mist, but we can trust that they contribute to the beauty and wholeness of our lives.

So let us walk forward in gratitude as if stepping carefully through a fog-shrouded jungle, appreciating each step, each breath, each blessing. Gratitude softens our edges, transforms our vision, and connects us deeply with the world around us—and with the One who created it all. It turns the ordinary into something extraordinary, not by changing what we have but by revealing what we already hold.

References:

Brown, B. (2010). The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are. Hazelden Publishing.

Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (2003). Counting blessings versus burdens: An experimental investigation of gratitude and subjective well-being in daily life. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 377–389.