“The first reason why I am interested in my identity is that I have happened. I have occurred, and I needn’t have occurred. I could have missed the bus of existence. Do you remember all those spermatozoa rushing to the ovum? I won’t go into the biodetails, but I turned out to be “me” on account of one particular spermatozoon making it ahead of the others. Now that was a chance in a million, for a start.
The thing which we least value and which is indeed the most precious is the gift of existence. We’ve occurred! We may be thankful for being American. We may be thankful for being Californian. We may be thankful for being a woman or a man. We can be thankful for a million things. But how many people are thankful for being—not being this or that but just being? It’s something not only to be thankful for but to be amazed at. I’ve happened! I’m jolly well not going to die without having a look at what’s alive, at what’s occurred into my chair, into my pants, while there’s an opportunity to have a look at it.”
from “Five Reasons for Looking” by Douglas Harding
https://tatfoundation.org/tat-forum-archives/forum2006-03.htm#7
There are several places in the Bible that contains this joy for existing. More specifically, the invitation is to praise the Maker:
“Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!”
Psalm 150.6
“Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you heavens;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you angels of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you waters above the heavens;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you powers of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, sun and moon;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, stars of heaven;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all rain and dew;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all you winds;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, fire and heat;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, winter cold and summer heat;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, dews and falling snow;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, ice and cold;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, frosts and snows;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, nights and days;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, light and darkness;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, lightnings and clouds;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Let the earth bless the Lord;
let it sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, mountains and hills;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all that grows in the ground;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you springs;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, seas and rivers;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you whales and all that swim in the waters;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, all birds of the air;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
81 Bless the Lord, all wild animals and cattle;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
82 “Bless the Lord, all people on earth;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
83 Bless the Lord, O Israel;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
84 Bless the Lord, you priests of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
85 Bless the Lord, you servants of the Lord;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, spirits and souls of the righteous;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, you who are holy and humble in heart;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
Bless the Lord, Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael;
sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever.
For he has rescued us from Hades and saved us from the power of death,
and delivered us from the midst of the burning fiery furnace;
from the midst of the fire he has delivered us.
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
All who worship the Lord, bless the God of gods,
sing praise to him and give thanks to him,
for his mercy endures forever.”
Daniel 3: 57-90 (Catholic Edition, New Revised Standard Version)
Commentary: I don’t believe our main job is to contort and wrestle with our mind so that our heart agrees with this passage. What this passage shows me is another perspective that from where I am seems so foreign. To the question of whether I am grateful for existing there is no resounding yes in me, and that is the fact. It shows me that I am jaded, tired, and sad, and it is not something to blame myself for feeling. It is the fact of my situation. It is to be simply be seen clearly, honestly. To be accepted, in other words.
So, we are not grateful for existing. It’s a sentiment that, when expressed, may make those who hear it uncomfortable and even reject us. Accepting it does not mean we have the right to take it out on the world around us, either. What do we do then? I have no answer to this other than trying to live my daily life as best I can.