Yesterday, I had a three-hour organ practice session in a beautiful large church. A woman from the church's altar guild was working serenely and diligently while I practiced. I could see her pruning and replacing flowers, one by one, over and over. Then, she did the same thing with the candles, checking each one, filling them with oil, lighting them to make sure they worked well, making adjustments whenever needed. As I was going over and over certain passages to polish out any rough spots, she was polishing brass. I felt so grateful to her for the beauty that she lovingly creates for others. Just as I was about to go over to her to tell her that, she came to me and said, "I'm so thankful that you're here making such beautiful music while I work."

That practice session became an unexpected testimony to gratitude and beauty. Both attributes sustain the heart and soul, and when they're practiced, they're contagious.