Praise the Rain, Joy Harjo
Meditation
The word “praise,” has many connotations to it, and for me they’re most closely associated with religion. “Praise” in my mind means worship and veneration. it means feeling overcome with joy and conviction. But the etymology of the word actually means “to attach value to.” We’re taught from a young age to assign value to blessings and bounty, and to view life’s hardships as mere interruptions in the moments that we truly value and the happiness that we strive for.
But what if we attached equal value to both the ups and downs in life? What would it look like to praise the darkest moments alongside the brightest? Praise the rain. Praise the day. But also, praise crazy. Praise sad. This piece binds the world around us together – the earth, the sky, the sea – and reminds us to praise the path on which we’re led, and all that it encompasses.
Brianna Curran, Washington, DC
