At the Open Way Fall 2009 Retreat, our guest teacher Michael Ciborski taught us Jody Kessler's song "Many Hands", which we sang before meals as an alternative to reciting the Five Contemplations. I was really taken with this song – for me it opened up a new doorway on the practice of gratitude. So I committed to learning the song the best I could, writing down the lyrics, and helping lead the group singing at those meals where Michael didn't join us.

Nearly three weeks later and I'm still enjoying the song a lot. Some friends have expressed interest in learning the song better, so I've made a rough home recording of it which you can listen to right here – just click the big arrow above. You can also download it as an MP3 file to play on your computer or put on your iPod.

I don't kid myself that this recording will dethrone James Taylor or Madonna or John Mayer from the top of your playlist! I merely hope some people find it enjoyable to help learn the song.

The song was written by Jody Kessler and appeared on her 2003 CD Bare Bones – you can purchase her recording of it.

Lyrics

On this plate
There are many hands
The hands that sowed the seeds
And the hands that tilled the land,
The hands that worked the harvest,
and brought it to the stands.
Yes on this plate are many hands.

In this bowl
Are sun and rain and air,
The garden's soil and all the tiny creatures that live there.
A delicate balance
Of beings great and small.
Yes in this bowl we have them all.

In this food
There are many souls.
Some may be our family
Who served it in our bowl.
Some may be migrant workers
Whom we will never know,
And can't afford to buy the food they grow.

In this room
there are many hands.
Let's join them all together
In a circle if we can.
And in this sacred silence
Let there be gratitude
For the many hearts and hands that made this food.
For the many hearts and hands that made this food.