Praying with Henry Ossawa Tanner's "The Thankful Poor"
On Thanksgiving, we explore gratitude through Philippians 4 and Tanner’s The Thankful Poor, learning to give thanks in all circumstances. This intimate prayer invites us to find peace and contentment in God’s presence. How might focusing on gratitude transform your experience of life’s challenges today?
Philippians 4:6-13
In this Thanksgiving Day episode, Rev. Rob McPherson welcomes viewers to a time of contemplative prayer focused on gratitude. Drawing on Eckhart Tolle’s insight that gratitude opens the spiritual dimension of life, Rob connects this to a reflection on Henry Ossawa Tanner’s painting The Thankful Poor. The session centers on Philippians 4:6-13, a passage encouraging thanksgiving in all circumstances—not as a dismissal of hardship, but as an acknowledgment of God’s presence even amid trials.
Rob invites participants to listen attentively to the scripture, noting words and phrases that call them to focus on what is excellent and admirable. He encourages viewers to hold these words in their hearts as they turn to Tanner’s painting, which depicts an intimate scene of two figures in prayer, bathed in a soft, divine light. The composition draws the viewer into the moment, inviting them to imagine themselves at the table, sharing in the quiet peace and contentment of the scene.
The facilitator reflects on the painting’s themes of divine presence, peace, and contentment, inviting participants to consider what prayers the figures might be offering. Returning to the scripture, viewers are asked to imagine the older man in the painting speaking Paul’s words of encouragement and instruction, fostering a deeper connection between the text, the artwork, and their own prayer life.
The episode closes with an extended time for personal prayer, inviting participants to join the figures in giving thanks and to experience God’s peace that transcends understanding. Rob reminds them that they can return to this scripture and painting whenever they need to express gratitude and find contentment. The session ends with blessings and a hope that this time nourishes their souls and eases anxiety through gratitude.
