Not long ago, I stayed late at work—later than usual. I decided to tidy up my desk: sort sheet music and texts into folders. And, if I’m honest, I also wanted to be alone for a while in the hall, to enjoy the silence after a long musical rehearsal, with a cup of very hot tea in my hands.

When everything I had planned was done, I locked the room and turned toward the corridor leading to the stairs. And then I froze.

For the first time I can remember, the lights were completely off. Total darkness. The building was empty—no colleagues, no cleaning staff, only a security guard somewhere in another wing. I had no idea where the light switch was. My phone battery was dead, so even a flashlight was out of the question.

So I moved forward by touch—quite literally. I knew the distance from the door to the stairs was about two meters, but how many steps that would take was something I was about to discover. My left hand slid along the wall. A guitar hung from my right shoulder. In my other hand, a glass of boiling water. I felt for each next step with my foot.

Those few seconds—the short path from the door to the first stair—left a surprisingly vivid mark on my memory. In that moment, I suddenly understood with painful clarity what a blessing it is to be able to see. I can see. Why don’t I rejoice in this? Why do I forget? Why is my mind crowded with worries and plans, but not with gratitude to God for the simple gift of sight, of hearing, of movement?

After all, someone out there has been deprived of these things. And I have lived for decades with these abilities—and forget to say thank you. Forget to rejoice.

Why does this happen? Do we stop appreciating simple things as we grow older? Do we lose our ability to see the miraculous? Or do we simply grow used to health, to life itself, to well-being, as if they were guaranteed? And if so—how do we overcome this blindness?

The Apostle Paul gives an answer in his letter to the Thessalonians: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Gratitude is not just a duty. It is medicine for the soul.

Lord, thank You.