This is the Day the Lord has Made…
Take time to contemplate the depth of God’s love for you, and others. (What Wondrous Love Is This performed by Fernando Ortega)
Jesus says these words after washing the disciples’ feet, “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (Jn 13:15). What strikes you most about Jesus’ model? What characteristics are you most drawn to and inspired by? Share what’s on your heart with Jesus.
“Surely it is not I…?” (excerpt from today’s Gospel – Mt 26:14-25). It’s not hard to imagine that none of the disciples wanted to betray, desert, or deny Jesus. Yet, each has moments where, in the face of distress and sudden, unexpected circumstances, their response is less than what they’re capable of, would have hoped for, or predicted. How do you invite the Lord into the unexpected? And into recovering from “less than” moments? How do you allow the Lord to love you in the midst of these moments and other imperfections?
“So he [Jesus] dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him.” (Jn 13: 26-27). What’s it like to consider that just as Jesus had his part in God’s salvation plan, so did Judas? What’s it like to sit with the fact that both had circumstances beyond their control that impacted them and their choices? How might this become part of your prayer?
As you go about your day, notice your intent, motivation, and spirit. What do they reflect?
The people were divided. That’s one of the things that today’s readings (Ez 37:21-28 & Jn 11:45-56) tell us. This is not unlike our times today. How do your beliefs influence you to see good in others, seek common ground, and work toward unity despite differences, to whatever degree, that may exist?
“And many there began to believe in him.” (Jn 10:42). We learn of people coming to believe in a number of places throughout Scripture. Reflect on your faith and recall moments that have led you to believe or increased your faith. What does it take for you to believe something? What’s your discernment process? And how has your relationship with the Lord grown through it?
Reflect on who you are and how you aspire to be in this world. What characteristics would you use to describe what’s most important to you in your striving?
Contemplate your relationship with Jesus as you imagine your life as a house, or any kind of building, and place each of the different aspects of your life (faith, family, career, hobbies, etc.) in their own space or room. Notice how each aspect is influenced by Jesus and His word? Pray with whatever desires arise.
On this Solemnity of St. Joseph, how might you draw inspiration from the way that St. Joseph responded to and navigated the circumstances that seemed to drift into his life?
Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will. – William Cowper
“Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, ‘Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?’” (Jn 7:50-51). Thinking about these verses, what means do you use to discern matters? In what ways do you take into account more than one possibility, or take time to listen and give thought, in addition to hearing someone out?
Take time to consider how you honor what you value and prioritize the “to do’s” with the time you have. In what ways do you feel pressured by time or a sense of urgency? Where do you involve the Lord when it comes time and its use?
I believe.
Yes, without question,
I believe.
And as I believe,
I walk here,
And I walk there.
Everywhere I go,
I believe.
I look up,
And I look down.
I look all around,
And all the while, I believe.
I believe.
Yes, without question,
I believe, is what I say.
Yet, believe as I may,
Believe as I might,
Is all that believing,
Reflecting the Light?
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in mercy. – Psalm 145:8. Notice where you encounter these attributes and how you extend them to others as well as to yourself.
Consider this: Jesus could’ve easily healed the man at the pool (John 5:1-16) from anywhere, but instead he took the time to engage with and listen to him. Jesus asked, “Do you want to be well?” Then, Jesus honored the sabbath (the day of rest), and every day, not just by having mercy and compassion, but also by showing it.
Recall a time(s) when the Lord provided you with a sign or wonder that helped increase your faith or aided you in another way. Who is this God who understands human nature so well and provides what is needed? What do you wish to express to the Lord today?
Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” – Mk 12:29-31
Think about what it’s like to choose love in the situations you face each day. Where are the places where it seems easy, and the ones where it is a challenge? Are there places where perhaps love is not being considered as part of a choice? How might Jesus and His example help?
“I am the salvation of the people, says the Lord. Should they cry to me in any distress. I will hear them, and I will be their Lord for ever.” This is the entrance antiphon for today’s Mass. The response for the psalm is, “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” (Ps 95:8) And in the Gospel Jesus says, “…whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Lk 11:23).
Reflect on your relationship with the Lord. How have you been experiencing the Lord’s voice lately? How has the Lord been experiencing your voice these days? Are there places where you’re holding back, or resisting, from gathering with the Lord? In what ways might there be greater light/transparency?
Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the Kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:19). Contemplate the commandments as an expression of God’s love. How do/can you use them to help guide you to greater charity and love?
Your ways, O Lord, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior. – Psalm 25:4-5ab
Reflect on what it’s like to be a student of the Lord. What does the relationship mean to you? How do you feel inspired by it today?
At a distance, it’s funny how things can seem,
At a distance, it’s not surprising, things get lost,
But also,
At a distance, it’s not surprising, things get found.
At a distance, or not,
The matter is not where one is,
But rather, always, what one seeks.
In the parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15:11-32), it can be easy to identify with one of the characters to the exclusion of the others, hindering one’s ability to also take a broader view of this illustration of God’s unwavering love, kindness, and mercy. Take some time to consider the parable alongside the excerpt from The Prophet pictured below.
What attitudes do you hold toward the younger son, the older son, and the father in the parable? What do the images of the flying arrow, the stable bow, and the Archer evoke? In which person or object do you see yourself and to what degree? And your pursuits? Where does the Archer come into play? Share what you notice with the Lord.
It can be difficult to see value in what seems to go “wrong”. Yet, no situation is beyond God’s grace.
The Lord turns Joseph’s being sold to the Ishmaelites (Gn 37:17b-28a) around in unexpected ways, making it a blessing (Ps 105:16-21).
Recall how the Lord has blessed you, remarkably as well as subtly, answering prayers and concerns and fulfilling needs, even ones you may have been unaware of. What comes to mind? How is your heart stirred?
Simone Weil wrote, “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” The rich man was essentially blind/indifferent to the existence and condition of Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31). Contemplate the ways in which you are attentive to the Lord and others, what distracts you, and what draws you in.
To be placed at the right and left in His Kingdom? (Mt 20:17-28). The disciples are miffed by the nerve of James and John, but Jesus points to discernment: Do they know what they are asking and understand what it entails? He also redirects their attention to the Kingdom’s mission.
In Isaiah 1:10, the people are urged to “hear” and “listen”. Invite the Lord to help you to see anything that may be inhibiting your ability to hear and listen. Consider how you hear and listen. the attitudes or filters you hold, and the source of them.
A person tends to be most happy and at peace when there is a sense of balance in their life, both at an individual level and as it relates to engagement with others. Consider the quote below as you reflect on the sense of balance and freedom you are currently experiencing.
“Two works of mercy set a person free: Forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive.” – St. Augustine
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. – Mt 5:43-45
Reflect on the voices you listen to each day. Do they provoke thought and consideration, stretching you and inducing growth? Or, do they take you captive, limiting your scope? What values or virtues do they encourage?
I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven. – Mt 5:20
It can be easy to forget that no one is perfect, especially when looking at events and situations that contain things that may seem obviously wrong or bad. However, Faith calls us to remember that we all, at the very least, have “lack of awareness” moments where, for whatever reason, we are not at our best. Recall a time(s) when you experienced compassion in the face of a mistake, what that was like, and how it shaped you going forward. How does/can that influence you today?
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
for years to come. – Psalm 23:6
If you had to describe dwelling in the house of the Lord, what adjectives would associate with it? Continuing to reflect on this, enter into conversation with Jesus about where you have experienced these qualities over the course of the past few days.
Across many cultures there are many phenomena that people take as signs, sometimes even using them to navigate. For example, “Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Red sky in morning, sailor’s warning.” However, when it comes to signs, it can be tempting to get caught up in them or their representations to the detriment of what is best or of more importance.
In today’s Gospel (Lk 11:29-32), Jesus, trying to help the people recognize Him and the moment, says, “…there is something greater than Solomon here”… “and there is something greater than Jonah here.” Consider how you involve God as you process signs/happenings, so that you are not latching on and getting lost in what is less than. Consider the impact that you allow signs and their representations to have on you and your decision making.
With so much change and unrest in the world today, it can be even more challenging than usual to take situations or things as being transitory and the results of choices related to them as leaving permanent imprints in one way or another.
Considering this, in what ways is your free will, and how you exercise it, impacted by seeking a sense of security? Who or what is at the root or the source of that security? Whose promise is it?
Take a few moments to think about a Scripture passage, poem, speech, etc. where the words in it touched your heart and radiated outward, sticking with you as you continued on your way. What words would you use to describe the experience? As you reflect on what it was like, recall how the words and their delivery impacted you at that time.
How might those words and their delivery inspire you and influence the way you communicate today?
All that is good and honorable in this world begins, and carries on, in a heart nurtured by the splendor of God and humble to all creation.
He appeared and the soul felt its worth…
Peace thru the Goodness of the Lord…
Love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. – Rom 12:10
The beginning of all things new…
The peace of God is all around. Sometimes in gestures bold and bright as can be. Sometimes quietly waiting in unexpected places, catching an eye from afar. But nonetheless, always around.
Goodness is the only investment that never fails. — Henry David Thoreau
The Peace of Christ—gift and great blessing—to be received… to be shared.
Where do you find encouragement? Where do you give encouragement?
The birth of Hope…
What does it mean to prosper? What does it look like? In what ways does it involve the voice and walk of unity and community, and how one seeks to be part of that?
Your ways, O Lord, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior. – Psalm 25:4-5ab
“I feel sorry for anybody that could let hate wrap them up. Ain’t no such thing as I can hate anybody and hope to see God’s face.” – Fannie Lou Hamer
On your way… “In all your ways be mindful of God, and God will make straight your paths” (Ps 3:6).
Reconciliation – brought together, united in the heart of God.
Imagine how bright the world would be,
if words were spoken,
and steps were taken,
with great care,
as if on Holy ground.
Imagine how inspired one would be,
if words were spoken,
and steps were taken,
with great care,
mindful, that all is Holy ground.
Love sees many, as well as one.
Love invites us to be real.
Love brings together.
Love elevates upon embrace.
Love breathes peace.
Love urges unity.
Love faces adversity.
Love stands up to injustice.
Love steers us for the better, restoring hope, renewing faith.
Love is here and now, in the past, and in the future too.
Love, as always, it is tried and true.
Love, as always, it is old as well as new.
Sometimes it can be easy to become too busy or distracted, and as if by sleight of hand, one’s sense of peace can start to wilt, slip away, or dwindle. “Half an hour’s meditation each day is essential, except when you are busy. Then a full hour is needed.” ― St. Francis de Sales
Perspective…
To the naked eye,
Snow dropping where it will,
Sometimes harder than at others,
Pelting here and there.
Through the camera lens,
With a little bit of light,
Streaks of snow parachuting through the air,
painting white on all who come to bear.
The scepter of power – created in God’s image.
When you seek Love with all your Heart, you shall find its echoes in the universe. – Rumi
The Essence of Holidays and More…
In a scrappy world… in any world, “let the peace of Christ control your hearts…” (Col 3:15).
But the plan of the Lord stands forever; the design of the Lord’s heart, through all generations. – Psalm 33:11
The Lord hears the cry of the poor (Ps 34:7a). The Lord hears the cry of the oppressed. As I look around… as I listen, what do I hear?
Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed ever corner of your life. – Rumi
The throne of God, hearts, created to be both strong and vulnerable, holy, compassionate and steadfast.
To welcome… to “make known the glorious splendor of God’s Kingdom” (Ps 145:12).
Humility: Against the Grain or With It…
Live the Good News…
The Spirit within and out, Life giving life…
Considering All Things Under The Sun…
In the heart of Summer…
We must sow the seed, not hoard it. – St. Dominic
Believe, take flight, and be amazed by Grace.
Believe in the whisperings of God to your own heart. – Mary MacKillop
Believe in the whisperings of God to your own heart”. Mary MacKillop
Peace of Christ control our hearts.
Truth is ever to be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things. – Sir Isaac Newton
Love is not blind – it sees more, not less. But because it sees more, it is willing to see less. – Rabbi Julius Gordon
Someday, after mastering the winds, the waves, the tides and gravity, we shall harness for God the energies of love, and then, for a second time in the history of the world, man will have discovered fire. – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
One day, one week, or more,
not at all within my sight,
Presently, however,
The rain departs,
Leaving drops behind,
And still, something more.
A lift to the heart.
Brightness unexpected,
But welcome anyway.
Love says,
“I Am here and,
I Am grateful.
Today is not tomorrow,
Nor is it yesterday.
You own nothing,
But this moment,
And it’s where you need to stay.”
You are the light of the world. – Mt 5:14
Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible. – Corrie Ten Boom
Peace turns night to day, opening what is closed, blooming into joy.
Patient Energy Arising from Compassion Eternal.
Light overcomes darkness. Where do I find it? How do I embrace and shed it?
Turn yourself round like a piece of clay and say to the Lord, “I am clay, and you, Lord, the potter. Make of me what you will.” — St. John of Ávila
Until you have real compassion, you cannot recognize love. – Bob Thurman
In all situations… in all things… how do I open my heart to God to receive Light, and then in and through that grace, open my heart to the universe, allowing God to draw out of me the Light that is within?
Proclaiming the Gospel… to care as Christ does for me.
Believing… Here I Am, I Am here.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. – Psalm 118:24
I will sing of your salvation. – Psalm 71
“Hope knows no limits, because it flows forth from Love without limits and leads back to that Love.” – Archimandrite Lev Gillet
Be filled, O hearts, with the presence of the Lord.
God provides a way, always.
“Where there is no vision, there is no hope.” – George Washington Carver.
Peace is more important than all justice; and peace was not made for the sake of justice, but justice for the sake of peace. – Martin Luther
Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. – Aristotle
Embrace love. The capacity of the heart is A-mazing.
Don’t you know yet? It is your light that lights the World. ― Rumi
All are born to rise… “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” ― Martin Luther King, Jr.
There is no space where God is not; space does not exist apart from Him. He is in heaven, in hell, beyond the seas; dwelling in all things and enveloping all. Thus He embraces, and is embraced by, the universe, confined to no part of it but pervading all. – St. Hilary of Poitiers
Take heed, take comfort, o hearts, exult in the Lord.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. – 1 Jn 4:7
In the New Year, Who Makes All Things New…
We are each made for goodness, love and compassion. Our lives are transformed as much as the world is when we live with these truths. – Desmond Tutu
The heart of the Christian spiritual journey is God’s determined will to transmit to us the maximum of divine light, life, love and happiness that we can possibly receive. – Thomas Keating
Listen to the wind, it talks. Listen to the silence, it speaks. Listen to your heart, it knows. – Native American Proverb
We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light. – Hildegard of Bingen
“Between optimism and pessimism, there is confidence in God.” – Edmund Campion
Go with energy that is positive and take a broad view of things while holding onto and living in honesty and truth, kindness and justice. Let faith and the goodness in your soul lead you.
Back down to earth–Zaccheaus and his willing heart are called to Jesus, and enter a new way of being.
Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life. – Phil 2
What can we gain by sailing to the moon if we are not able to cross the abyss that separates us from ourselves? This is the most important of all voyages of discovery, and without it, all the rest are not only useless, but disastrous. – Thomas Merton
Peace brings light into stillness…
The word of God is living and effective, able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. – Hebrews 4:12
Love Lifts Up and Over, If You Let It…
Nothing is sweeter than love, nothing stronger, nothing higher, nothing wider, nothing more pleasant, nothing fuller or better in heaven or earth; for love is born of God, and can rest only in God above all created things. – Thomas à Kempis
Life is a gift, not to possess, but to share. — Henri Nouwen
God has arranged everything in the universe in consideration of everything else. — Hildegard of Bingen
Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift. — Mary Oliver.
Put on the heart of the Lord — kind and merciful.
“… all human wisdom is contained in these two words – Wait and Hope.” – Alexandre Dumas
Along the way, help is ever-present. The challenge is to proceed, trusting it will be there when you need it, perhaps in unexpected ways, and to ask for the heart and mind that is willing to recognize and receive it.
There’s always room for Hope, the efforts inspired by it, and the possibilities that arise from it.
“…until day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” – 2 Pt 1:19
“Laces”
Day in… day out…
Sometimes life seems like laces waiting to be tied, or not.
With purpose each loop is made,
Before circling carefully around,
And then pushing through gently, yet firmly,
Next, pulling to a knot,
At last, desire is achieved.
Interesting, what happens in all the steps
From here to there and back.
One might ponder, or not,
How are those steps managed?
Are they held with care?
Then, day, coming to its end,
Laces here, laces there,
Quickly come undone, or not,
And those shoes,
Somewhere in between,
Slipped off without a thought, or not.
Listen to the inner light; it will guide you.
Listen to the inner peace; it will feed you.
Listen to the inner love; it will transform you… – Sri Chinmoy
To know much and taste nothing—of what use is that? – St. Bonaventure
The Sum of Kind and Wonderful…
The whole of life lies in the verb “seeing.” – Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time. – Mahatma Gandhi
Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us. – Wilma Rudolph
What is a loving heart? A loving heart is sensitive to the whole of life, to all persons; a loving heart doesn’t harden itself to any persons or things. – Anthony de Mello
If there were only one meaning for the words [of scripture], the first interpreter would find it, and all other listeners would have neither the toil of seeking nor the pleasure of finding. – St. Ephrem of Syria
My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. – Luke 1:47
Shelter in the storm, and out…
Knock, and He’ll open the door. Vanish, And He’ll make you shine like the sun. Fall, and He’ll raise you to the heavens. Become nothing, and He’ll turn you into everything. – Rumi
Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Our life is all grounded and rooted in love, and without love we may not live. – Julian of Norwich
The openness of our hearts and minds can be measured
by how wide we draw the circle of what we call family. – St. Teresa of Calcutta
Each breath is simply precious, delicate, intricate… unique.
Each voice, each life is simply, boldly irreplaceable.
…it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
From within…
The mind lives in doubt and the heart lives in trust. When you trust, suddenly you become centered. – Osho
Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray. – Rumi
There is no hurry. We shall get there some day. – A. Milne
One Lord… One Law… Love…
Take heart, take courage, and be whom you were created to be.
No one has ever become poor by giving. – Anne Frank
I dwell in Possibility… – Emily Dickinson
The soul has been given its own ears to hear things the mind does not understand. – Rumi
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God, For he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, and relenting in punishment. – Jl 2:13
Our faith comes in moments; our vice is habitual. Yet there is a depth in those brief moments which constrains us to ascribe more reality to them than to all other experiences. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Millions of flakes falling from the sky. Some will melt upon contact, and some will stick to branches or other objects along the way, or on the ground. No on can predict which will be the case, and, in the end, all are beneficial.
“The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious. The desire to reach hearts is wise.” ― Maya Angelou
I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. – George Washington Carver
I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. – Jeremiah 31:33
Embrace the spirit of peace, unity, and inclusivity, for it is stronger than anything that might seek to take it down.
Words to live by… “Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; toughness begets a greater toughness. We must meet the forces of hate with the power of love.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Words to remember… “Peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the existence of justice for all people.” – Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:5
It’s a heart thing—to believe.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us. – 1 Jn 4:11
Even on a dreary day, Love reaches higher.
Being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence. – Henri Nouwen
Peace is not something you must hope for in the future. Rather, it is a deepening of the present, and unless you look for it in the present you will never find it. – Thomas Merton
On the river of peace, where are you? Immersed in it, on the riverbank, floating down stream, a dam blocking the flow, or somewhere else?
Genesis bringing Light all The Way through…
All around… Love
The very center of your heart is where life begins –
the most beautiful place on earth. – Rumi
No God, no peace; know God, know peace. – Croft M. Pentz
In the house of the Lord…
Not where I breathe, but where I love, I live… – Robert Southwell
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. – Alfred Lord Tennyson
On the sea of glass… (Rev 15:2) — Trust in the Lord with all your heart… with all His heart.
The greatest gift you ever give is your honest self. ― Fred Rogers
Saving Power…
But what is happiness, except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? – Albert Camus
Walk in Truth, and remember… “I want eternity. I was born for greater things.” – Stanislaus Kostka, SJ
What you’re looking for is where you’re looking from. – Francis of Assisi
We too often bind ourselves by authorities rather than by the truth. – Lucretia Mott
On edge? Or on point?
Live your beliefs and you can turn the world around. ― Henry David Thoreau
May the peace that belongs to those who have passed, transcend the walls and boundaries of those who remain…
It is easy to acknowledge, but almost impossible to realize for long, that we are mirrors whose brightness, if we are bright, is wholly derived from the sun that shines upon us. ― C.S. Lewis
May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. – Jude 1:2
The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.
– Norman Cousins
My heart awakens in awe
so much beauty all around
so much to see
so much to learn
so many great examples
love and grace of God unbound.
With joy you will draw water from the fountains of salvation (Is 12:3)…
“Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens.” — Kahlil Gibran
The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we would appear to be; and if we observe, we shall find that all human virtues increase and strengthen themselves by the practice and experience of them. – Socrates
The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature. – Joseph Campbell
Let nothing disturb you,
Let nothing frighten you,
All things are passing away:
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing;
God alone suffices. — St. Teresa of Avila
The more light you allow within you, the brighter the world you live in will be. — Shakti Gawain.
Be The Peace You Wish To See In The World! – Martin Luther King, Jr.
Will is to grace as the horse is to the rider. – Augustine of Hippo
Love is a great thing, a good above all others, which alone maketh every burden light. – Thomas à Kempis
Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it within us, or we find it not. – Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Your word, O Lord,
is a lamp for my feet,
a light for my path.
– Psalm 119:105
It is the Lord who proves hearts… – Proverbs 21:2
So often in life, things that you regard as an impediment turn out to be great, good fortune. – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
– Psalm 13:13
Patience asks us to live the moment to the fullest, to be completely present to the moment, to taste the here and now, to be where we are. When we are impatient we try to get away from where we are. We behave as if the real thing will happen tomorrow, later and somewhere else. Let’s be patient and trust that the treasure we look for is hidden in the ground on which we stand. – Henri Nouwen
It is in mindful living and prayerful appreciation, beholding each moment as it comes, that we honor the History that is ours, and the lives of those who have passed.
Mercy, detached from justice, grows unmerciful. – C.S. Lewis
The flower that follows the sun does so even in cloudy days. – Robert Leighton
Have the Light of life… – John 8:12
The peace and healing of the Lord rests upon each willing soul. Then, together, fills the air around, spreading what is Good.
Temptation seeks to draw one into a bubble, toward things of comfort, at the expense of facing that which poses a challenge in one way or another. Light, love, and peace, often break through in the places where, moved by the greater good, one refuses to be insulated, and by the grace of God, meets the challenge, rises up, and overcomes the obstacles.
It is no advantage to be near the light if the eyes are closed. – Augustine of Hippo
…And when you work with love you bind yourself to yourself,
and to one another, and to God.
And what is it to work with love?
It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart,
even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth… – Khalil Gibran
Seek moments of solitude. Together is great, but sometimes alone is better…
It is the heart which perceives God and not the reason. That is what Faith is: God perceived by the heart, not by the reason. – Blaise Pascal
We can choose to throw stones, to stumble on them, to climb over them, or to build with them. – William Arthur Ward
Trust… The glory of the Lord is higher than the skies. – Psalm 113:4.
“An ‘I’ without a body is a possibility. But a body without an ‘I’ is utterly impossible.” — Edith Stein a.k.a. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Everlasting dominion, everlasting Love.
Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion. – Meister Eckhart
Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
The hospitality of God is ever present. Take some time to reflect on where it is most noticeable to you as you go about the day.
The revelation of your words, Lord, sheds light and gives understanding…
– Psalm 119:130
“The secret of life is that it is God-given” – Bless Your Heart (Series III)
“When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.'” – Kahlil Gibran
Little things that carry lasting messages…
Community is where humility and glory touch. – Henri Nouwen
It’s an incredible mystery of God’s love that the more you know how deeply you are loved, the more you will see how deeply your sisters and brothers in the human family are loved. – Henri Nouwen
To the Lord’s strength, look;
Seek always the face of the Lord. – Psalm 105:4
Faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation. – Andrew Murray
The strongest love is the love that can demonstrate its fragility. – Paul Coehlo
“The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.” – Henri Nouwen
If honor were profitable, everybody would be honorable. – St. Thomas More
Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough.
– Mary McLeod Bethune
No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is
Wherever you travel, travel in ways that are meaningful and sincere.
A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives. ― Jackie Robinson
And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. – Col 3:14
So many leaves of green… everywhere, everyone green.
So much to see and learn… everywhere, everyone green.
Gather round and listen… everywhere, everyone glean.
Sing to the Lord a new song. – Psalm 98
Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another.” – Alfred Adler.
What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like. — St. Augustine of Hippo
Tolerance may be a spot or resting place at points along the way, however, it is never enough on its own. Tolerance is not a destination to behold, but meant to be a temporary space, building toward acceptance and change for the better.
Make known to me your ways, Lord; teach me your paths. – Psalm 25:4
“Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure.
Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness.
Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts.
And show us what each one of us can do to set forward the coming of the day of universal peace.”
– Frank Borman II, A Prayer from Apollo 8 for Universal Justice
We are not primarily put on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through. – Peter DeVries
What ever disunites man from God, also disunites man from man. – Edmund Burke
For the breath of life is in the sunlight and the hand of life is in the wind. – Kahlil Gibran
One way to pray in a fear-filled world is to choose love over anxiety, to open the door of the heart to dwell in the intimate presence of the One who loves us. – Henri Nouwen
We are hidden in ourselves, like a truth hidden in isolated facts. When we know that this One in us is One in all, then our truth is revealed. – Rabindranath Tagore
To get joy, we must give it, and to keep joy, we must scatter it. – John Templeton
“… blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” – Luke 11:28
Listen with one’s heart and soul, and live the Way to behold.
Wishing peace, love, and joy to all mothers as well as to all women who may not have children, but who bring a spirit of generosity and provide love and care to those around them.
Change the world, with love, one heart at a time. – Jean Vanier
Be risen in your hopes and dreams, leaving shadows behind… doubts trampled beneath.
Out of darkness is born the light. – St. Catherine of Siena
Only when there is peace within, can there be peace between.
Abide…
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Today… tomorrow… always…
“O Lord, my God.
Teach my heart this day,
where and how to find you.” – St. Anselm
The wind blows where it wills,
and you can hear the sound it makes,
but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes;
so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. – Jn 3:8
Be still and know that I am God. – Psalm 46:10
Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles,
it empties today of its strength. – Corrie Ten Boom
The soul is made of love and must ever strive to return to love. Therefore, it can never find rest nor happiness in other things. It must lose itself in love. By its very nature it must seek God, who is love. – Mechthild of Magdeburg
Believe… for faith is the tool that allows us, through the grace of God, to be instruments of love, hope, and peace… to pass on wisdom, strength, and knowledge, and to contribute to the well-being of the world, and all who are in it.
O humble carpenter, down on your hands and knees,
look on your handiwork and build a house
so you may dwell in Me…
– “Wood and Nails,” by Keith Watts, Isaac Wardell, and Madison Cunningham
Light shines, hope is renewed, and faith is restored, with each and every gesture that is kind, and of goodwill.
He emptied himself…
He humbled himself…
Jesus, outpouring of God’s love.
Jesus, Model of how to live.
Call Upon the Lord
In my distress, I called upon the Lord.
In the silence, my calling echoed back.
From within it came, from within it lives.
Do not let go, hold tight, do not give up.
I called, and called, upon the Lord, who opened my eyes.
I called, and called upon the Lord, who opened my heart.
Still, I called, and called, and called, upon the Lord some more.
Then, like dawn at its rising, the grace of God, the answer… revealed.
Call upon the Lord with every breath,
“Come alive in me with every step.
Help me live a life, Lord, with no regrets.”
Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime. – Martin Luther
As we wade through the sea of uncertainty, may we trust in the steadiness of God.
When they see us, may they see Your mercy…
When they know us, may they know Your mercy…
– David Gungor, Latifah Alattas, and
Madison Cunningham in “Have Mercy on Me”
Patience is a conquering virtue. – Geoffrey Chaucer
While it seems that there is so much that we cannot do during this pandemic,
there is still so much that we can. Start each day, remembering,
and soaking in the knowledge that nothing can stop the love of God.
Then throughout the day, live from the prayer that arises from your heart.
Looking around and taking stock,
looking some more,
so familiar,
too familiar.
Sensing more,
opening the door…
As long as there is hope there is life. – Henri Nouwen
Place all hopes, thoughts, fears, and prayers in the hands of the One who is greater than any obstacles there may be. Trust in the Lord…
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who you are – Sinach
On this the feast of St. Joseph, build a house for the Lord to live in. Then, share it with the world. Let Love that is true, rule!
There was a time when all seemed so bleak,
and hope seemed nowhere to be found.
Not true…
there it is,
the same place where it always is.
Hope,
the light waiting to be seen on the opposite end of fear.
Pray, breathe, keep calm, and choose hope over despair.
Your ways, O Lord, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for your are God my savior. – Psalm 25:4-5
Good morning, moon. An unexpected view this morning…
Nearly all the best things that came to me in life have been unexpected, unplanned by me. – Carl Sandburg
Growth and change occurs from, and in, many directions, often going unnoticed, then seemingly, sudden, as if all at once.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matthew 7:8
Beyond… looking up and around, taking the pulse, feeling the groove, and sometimes moving on… listening, just beyond.
Keep the faith…
I believe, help my unbelief! – Mark 9:24
Seek balance…
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice. – Robert Frost
A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge. – Thomas Carlyle
In topsy-turvy times as well as ones more calm, strive always, for integrity and authenticity in word and deed… “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit oneself?” (Luke 9:25).
Each day is blessed, opening and unfolding, from moment to moment, boundless opportunities to encounter, experience, and engage the Grace of God.
One Letter Makes a Difference…
The more you succeed in loving, the more you’ll be convinced of the existence of God and the immortality of your soul. – Fyodor Dostoevsky
Discovering vocation does not mean scrambling toward some prize just beyond my reach but accepting the treasure of true self I already possess. Vocation does not come from a voice “out there” calling me to be something I am not. It comes from a voice “in here” calling me to be the person I was born to be, to fulfill the original selfhood given me at birth by God. – Thomas Merton
Each soul, from moment to moment, has the choice to become one with the Love of God, helping it to flow in the world, or not.
We’ve learned to fly the air like birds. We’ve learned to swim the seas like fish. And yet we haven’t learned to walk the earth like brothers and sisters. – Martin Luther King, Jr.
A time is coming when people will go mad, and when they meet someone who is not mad, they will turn to him and say, “you are out of your mind,” just because he is not like them. – Abbott Anthony
In forgiveness lies salvation. Forgiveness purifies the heart, and brings peace into the world.
With each heartbeat, Lord, help us to live in ways that show we belong to you.
In faith and quiet confidence, carry on…
Spread light… let it multiply.
It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. – Chinese proverb
There is so little distance between heaven and earth that God always hears us. Nothing but a thin veil separates us from God. – St. Andre Bessette
While the temperature may vary by degrees, the time is always perfect for patience, compassion, and understanding…
Happy New Year…
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! – Numbers 6:24-26
Sometimes, the way forward leads one to cross over new territory on the way to places that may be familiar.
If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away. – Henry David Thoreau
The saving power of God reaches to the ends of the earth, creating all that is good, and the source of all that is to be celebrated. Even more, It is for ALL. Merry Christmas!
May the heart of God shine through all, making us bigger than the shadows that seek to make us small.
Every word is a messenger… – Mary Oliver
All return whence they came,
some breathe life,
and shine so bright,
before they drift away…
On that day, the branch of the LORD will be beauty and glory,
and the fruit of the land will be honor and splendor… — Isaiah 4:2
Don’t let yourself forget that God’s grace rewards not only those who never slip, but also those who bend and fall. – Hildegard of Bingen
True hospitality is like the sun. It warms the body and soul of all who share in it.
Peace is waiting…
So many lights… a long line of sisters and brothers throughout the world, throughout time, united through all that is Divine. Alive, and living, in the Spirit of God.
Always a place for the snow to land, for however long it may be…
Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservations. – Elton Trueblood
Friends of God and prophets, numerous, and diverse as the Source. The Wisdom of God is always at work.
“And passing into holy souls from age to age, Wisdom produces friends of God and prophets.” – Wisdom 7:27b
Shine like lights in the world, as you hold on to the word of life. – Phil 2:15d, 16a
Inspired by those who have gone before, those who remain, and those to come, many hearts, One body.
Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.
– Robert Bellarmine
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor principalities,
nor present things, nor future things,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature will be able to separate us
from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39
Keep some room in your heart for the unimaginable. – Mary Oliver
Prayer leads you to see new paths and to hear new melodies in the air. Prayer is the breath of your life which gives you freedom to go and to stay where you wish to find the many signs which point out the way to a new land… Praying is living. – Henri Nouwen
Regardless of any criteria or conditions that might be conjured up or contrived, God’s desire for a personal relationship with each and every soul is unwavering and true. It is not conditional, restricted, or restrained by anyone or anything. God is God of all, with a constant love, and care, for all. Gently trying to guide and call out the best in each person, in each situation.
How do I respond?
Be the spirit that is willing to be true…
A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. – St. Francis of Assisi
Always, love is honest and true… awakens… refreshes… renews.
If God is the center of your life, no words are necessary. Your mere presence will touch hearts. – St. Vincent de Paul
“The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.” – Harper Lee
The earth is aglow with the grace of God. Hold onto it, and let it shine!
The more one’s ability to be appreciative is exercised, the greater the Light along the way.
Begotten… Remember the truth of who you are.
Be inspired to be true to being you. Be inspired, “…to light the light of those in darkness on earth.” – St. Teresa of Calcutta
Take time to tune in… “You cannot truly listen to anyone and do anything else at the same time.” – M. Scott Peck
Each petal is beautiful… special in its own right, but put together even more exquisite. The picture is never complete without some semblance of unity, without carrying on in a way that reaches out to others, embracing with care and concern for all.
Hope in the LORD, both now and forever. – Psalm 131:3
A little thing is a little thing, but faithfulness in a little thing becomes a great thing. – Plato
Optimism is faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. – Helen Keller
Coming Together and Falling into Place…
We must sow the seed, not hoard it. – St. Dominic
Progress…
Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions. – Oliver Wendell Holmes
To be truly alive is to be evolving ever deeper into the heart of God and outward.
Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. – Charles Dickens
To be alive is to be vulnerable. – Madeleine L’Engle
Nothing happens until something moves. – Albert Einstein
But insofar as any created things hinder our progress toward our goal [loving service and union with God], we ought to let them go. – St. Ignatius of Loyola
Allow the Spirit of God to guide you into place. Allow the Spirit of God to flow through you wherever you are.
For good or bad, slight and subtle changes at the tip, and along the edges, often slowly carry their way toward center.
For great is the power of the Lord; by the humble the Lord is glorified. – Sir 3:20
The source of justice is charity. – Bridget of Sweden
The important thing is not to think much, but to love much; do, then, whatever most arouses you to love. — Saint Teresa of Ávila
Rest time is not waste time. It is economy to gather fresh strength… It is wisdom to take occasional furlough. In the long run, we shall do more by sometimes doing less.- Charles Spurgeon
Balance…
In union, there is strength. – Aesop
The principle part of faith is patience. – George MacDonald
Beyond dimensions… each moment unfolds, filled with Grace untold.
But the plan of the Lord stands forever, the designs of the Lord’s heart, through all generations. – Psalm 33:11
Journey in faith… with heart and soul.
Trust in the brilliance of God…
Peace, love, and joy are companions of gratitude.
Everything beautiful has a mark of eternity. – Simone Weil
Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be. ― Kahlil Gibran
Ready, set, go!
Our heart always transcends us. – Rainer Maria Rilke
Knowledge of the heart…
Just as one candle lights another and can light thousands of other candles, so one heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts. – Leo Tolstoy
Let your inner light shine through, bursting forth in all you do.
Kernels of wisdom and opportunities to learn, and to grow, arise and await in each and every place.
It is always the simple that produces the marvelous. – Amelia Barr
If You’re Going to Get Swept Away…
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor 3:17). Your ways are higher…
Bear witness to the beauty of God which resides in, and all around, each of us.
Begin anywhere. – John Cage
All the scholastic scaffolding falls, as an edifice ruined, before one single word, faith. – Napoleon Bonaparte
The least of things with a meaning is worth more in life than the greatest of things without it. – Carl Jung
To blend in or not to blend in… a time and place for all things…
Focus on the Lord… Seek inspiration from the Lord…
“Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love the way you love, and do what you would do.” – Edwin Hatch
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
May your kind spirit guide me on ground that is level. – Psalm 143:10
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. – Phil 4:6
Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. – Desmond Tutu
I delight to do your will, my God; your law is in my inner being! – Psalm 40:9
Musicians must make music, artists must paint, poets must write if they are ultimately to be at peace with themselves. What humans can be, they must be. ― Abraham Maslow
A promise everlasting… “God’s dwelling is with the human race.” – Rev 21:3
We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us… – Herman Melville
It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. – Henry David Thoreau
Unity can happen any time, any place, where hearts are open to each other, honoring the goodness that each individual brings to the fold. Togetherness does not require moving in a row or staying in line.
Apart from the Vine, it is impossible for fruit to truly grow. Stay connected… “I chose you from the world, to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord” – John 15:16.
I am the drum on which God is beating out his message. – Joan of Arc
There is nothing but God’s grace. We walk upon it; we breathe it; we live and die by it; it makes the nails and axles of the universe. – Robert Louis Stevenson
It is more from carelessness about truth than from intentionally lying that there is so much falsehood in the world.- Samuel Johnson
Great things are done by a series of small things brought together. – Vincent Van Gogh
Earth changes, but thy soul and God stand sure. – Robert Browning
Eventually all things fall into place. Until then, laugh at the confusion, live for the moments, and know everything happens for a reason. – Albert Schweitzer
Be inspired by the One who inspires all that is good. Sing to the LORD a new song… (Isaiah 42:10)
For God is good – or rather, of all goodness God is the Fountainhead. – Athanasius of Alexandria. Cultivate gratitude…
Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Encouragement in the right direction… encouragement that is heartfelt and whose source is Love, helps make the world a better place.
To the servant of God… every place is the right place, and every time is the right time. – St. Catherine of Siena
Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Whenever you enter into it take with you your all. – Kahlil Gibran
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. – G.K. Chesterton
There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning. – Louis L’Amour
This is the day the LORD has made;let us rejoice in it and be glad. – Psalm 118:24
At the foot of the Cross…
Uncovered… At the core and into the heart, while the outside may be stripped away, the essence remains.
Wherever you stand, be the soul of that place. – Rumi
The Lord lifts up my soul – Psalm 54
Only that day dawns to which we are awake. – Henry David Thoreau
Courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace. – Amelia Earhart
A mighty flame followeth a tiny spark. – Dante Alighieri
The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. – Plutarch
Patience is more worthy than miracle-working. – Margery Kempe
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23
In God’s time…
Faith is the strength by which a shattered world shall emerge into the light. – Helen Keller
Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time. This is not just a nice story or a fable, it is true.
—Thomas Merton
The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time. – Abraham Lincoln
To hope in the Lord is to place one’s cares into the heart of God… to let go, opening one’s heart and mind to Love.
God is delighted to watch your soul enlarge. – Meister Eckhart
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. – St. Basil
What do I mean “open to God”? I mean… a courageous and confident hospitality expressed in all directions…. I mean an openness which is in the deepest sense a creative and dynamic receptivity — the ability to receive, to accept, to become.
— Samuel H. Miller
On this rainy, overcast day, in the quiet, stillness, and the spaces in between… Peace… Light… Truth…
As the darkness gives way to the light of day, open our hearts O Lord that we may see, and be, the Way.
The courageous heart is the one that is unafraid to open to the world. With compassion we come to trust our capacity to open to life without armoring. – Jack Kornfield
If light is in your heart, you will find your way home. – Rumi
From beginning to end… revelation to transformation… the Lord is my light and salvation (Psalm 27).
“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” – J.R.R. Tolkien
My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together. – Desmond Tutu
We cannot always trace God’s hand, but we can always trust God’s heart.
– Charles Spurgeon
Extend the blessing of Life, all along the way.
Look to the Lord and be radiant. – Psalm 34
The measure of your solitude is the measure of your capacity for communion. – Henri Nouwen
Be at peace with your own soul, then heaven and earth will be at peace with you. Eagerly enter into the treasure house that is within you, and so you will see the things that are in heaven; for there is but one single entry to them both. The ladder that leads to the Kingdom is hidden within your soul.- Isaac of Nineveh
How many activities can you count in your life that you engage in simply because they delight you and grip your soul? Find them out, cultivate them, for they are your passport to freedom and to love. ― Anthony de Mello
Keep the Faith…
Like a shepherd he feeds his flock;in his arms he gathers the lambs,
carrying them in his bosom, and leading the ewes with care. – Isaiah 40:11
Live as the beloved soul that you are.
“When we keep claiming the light, we will find ourselves becoming more and more radiant.” – Henri Nouwen
From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow. – Aeschylus
Dance to the life around you! – Marty Haugen
You have within you more love than you could ever understand. – Rumi
Nothing is perfect – It is in and through the Lord that hearts rejoice – Psalm 33.
God works powerfully, but for the most part gently and gradually. – John Newton
Be grateful in, and for, all things. The grace of God has no bounds.
There is in all things an inexhaustible sweetness and purity, a silence that is a fount of action and joy. – Thomas Merton
To walk in Truth is to see… to acknowledge and to give witness to that which embodies life, and not to ignore that which does not, but also to see, and to name it for what it is.
Receive all as an invitation to God…
In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth, or to step back into safety. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again. – Abraham Maslow
The earth is the LORD’s and all it holds, the world and those who dwell in it. – Psalm 24:1
All differences in this world are of degree, and not of kind, because oneness is the secret of everything. – Swami Vivekananda
Magnify the Lord… – Ps 34:4
Beautiful is the moment in which we understand that we are no more than an instrument of God; we live only as long as God wants us to live; we can only do as much as God makes us able to do; we are only as intelligent as God would have us be.
– Oscar Romero
I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders. – Jewish Proverb
Breathe in the beauty of creation. Be inspired…
Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul. – Dorothy Day
There’s always at least one thing…
A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows. – St. Francis of Assisi
There are no unsacred places; there are only sacred places and desecrated places.
― Wendell Berry
The good God does not need years to accomplish His work of love in a soul; one ray from His Heart can, in an instant, make His flower bloom for eternity. ― Thérèse de Lisieux
You’re never wrong to do the right thing. – Mark Twain
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. – Proverbs 21:3
On the face of it, the easiest of all activities should be seeing what we see. In reality, it’s the hardest. – Charles Movalli
The most important thing in your life is not what you do; it’s who you become. That’s what you will take into eternity. – Dallas Willard
We must not mind insulting men, if by respecting them we offend God.
– Saint John Chrysostom
Seek Clarity.
The journey…
True silence is the rest of the mind; it is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment. – William Penn
Choose Hope…
Action and contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha and Mary are sisters. – Bernard of Clairvaux
Sometimes one needs to stop swimming and just float.
It is not always the same thing to be a good man and a good citizen. – Aristotle
Do not accept anything as love which lacks truth. ― Edith Stein
Your God is ever beside you—indeed, He is even within you. – St. Alphonsus Liguori.
The Love of God Outpoured…
He who carries God in his heart bears Heaven with him wherever he goes. – St. Ignatius of Loyola
Delight in God…
Stretch… it’s often a necessary part of bearing fruit, especially that which is truly good.
Balance…
Nothing in all creation is so like God as stillness. – Meister Eckhart
Jesus is much more concerned about shaking your foundations, giving you an utterly alternative self image, world image, and God image, and thus reframing your entire reality. Mere inspiration can never do this. – Richard Rohr
Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas.
For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining; and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction.
Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing; And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection, and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes.” – Kahlil Gibran
Fear not the path of truth, for the lack of people walking on it. – Robert F. Kennedy
The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings. – J.M. Barrie
Flowerworks… Let the beauty within light up the sky.
The wind blows on us all, but it’s how you set your sail that makes the difference.
– Jim Rohn
Sure and steady… the Author of wisdom, peace, and strength.
In every age…
Before the mountains were begotten
and the earth and the world were brought forth,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God. – Psalm 90
Delicacy and dignity are taught by one’s own heart, not by a dancing master.
― Fyodor Dostoevsky
Because it’s the right thing to do…
Trust…
The miracle is not to fly in the air or walk on water, but to walk on the earth.
– Chinese Proverb
Encourage love, kindness, truth, and honesty, for and in all.
Not all those who wander are lost… – J.R.R. Tolkien
The journey is the reward. ― Chinese proverb
Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams. ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Rise up…
Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him.
– St. Augustine
Happiness is when what you think, what you say,
and what you do are in harmony. – Gandhi
God’s finger can touch nothing but to mold it into loveliness. – George MacDonald
From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow. – Aeschylus
The indwelling Spirit shall teach what is of God and what is not. This is why sometimes we can conjure up no logical reason for opposing a certain teaching, yet in the very depth of our being arises a resistance. – Watchman Nee
Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the Soul. – Henry Ward Beecher
We are constantly invited to be who we are. – Henry David Thoreau
Sometimes, trust is but a memory away…
Inspiration… always in motion… slowly, gently, rising from the depths of the soul.
Many pieces…
Believe God’s love and power more than you believe your own feelings and experiences. Your rock is Christ, and it is not the rock that ebbs and flows but the sea.
– Samuel Rutherford
The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest. – Thomas More
God’s dream is that you and I and all of us will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion. In God’s family, there are no outsiders, no enemies. Black and white, rich and poor, gay and straight, Jew and Arab, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Buddhist, Hutu and Tutsi, Pakistani and Indian—all belong. When we start to live as brothers and sisters and to recognize our interdependence, we become fully human. – Desmond Tutu
The mercy and love of God extends to all… not limited by or subject to human judgment.
Hope Restored… Bridges Rebuilt… No Thing Impossible…
Let God’s promises shine on your problems. – Corrie ten Boom
Life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one. In the depths of your hopes and desires lies your silent knowledge of the beyond; and like seeds dreaming beneath the snow, your heart dreams of spring. Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. – Kahlil Gibran
No snowflake ever falls in the wrong place. – Zen proverb
“Something sacred is at stake in every event.” – Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
In what or whom am I placing my trust, and is it intentional?
Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one. – Eleanor Roosevelt
Often when it seems impossible to take time, it is time to make it…
Patience…
After the storm… visible once more, the sun. Sometimes seemingly hidden, but truly always there, faithfully.
In what do you clothe yourself?
Let your heart sing.
Listen…
For what do you thirst?
Believe…
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” – Corrie Ten Boom
What does God want to bring to birth in or through you today?
As you pass from sunlight into darkness and back again every hour and a half, you become startlingly aware how artificial are thousands of boundaries we’ve created to separate and define. And for the first time in your life you feel in your gut the precious unity of the Earth and all the living things it supports. — Russell Schweikert, Apollo 9
“It is not length of life, but depth of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Shine like the whole universe is yours. – Rumi
There is a pleasure in the pathless woods. – Lord Byron
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”
– Martin Luther King, Jr.
Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life
is the foundation for all abundance. — Eckhart Tolle
One step at a time…
Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other. – Walter Elliot
Sing a new song…
For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end, is to make a beginning. ― T.S. Eliot
Time itself comes in drops. – William James
When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy. – Rumi
By perseverance the snail reached the ark. – Charles Spurgeon
God leads every soul by a separate path – St. John of the Cross
Love is a flower, you gotta let it grow. – John Lennon
The only journey is the one within. – Rainer Maria Rilke
Staying Up Late vs. Staying Awake…
Signs are everywhere…
Just before approaching the slumber that lies ahead, the trees prepare to shed their leaves. An array of color, once hidden, shows through. There is often more to life than what may be easily seen and, oftentimes, less is more.
“Everyone has been made for some particular work, and the desire for that work has been put in every heart.” — Rumi
To truly live is to evolve
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. — Aristotle
The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is, that one often comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won’t. – Henry Ward Beecher
“There are two ways of spreading light:
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.”
– Edith Wharton
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked,
in which you can walk with love and reverence.
~ Henry David Thoreau
“I am rooted, but I flow.” – Virginia Woolf
Every Tree… Known by Its Fruit
The best things in life are nearest: Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life’s plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life. – Robert Louis Stevenson
“Watch for the people whose eyes light up when you talk about your dream. Those are the people you keep.” – Elizabeth Gilbert
Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. – Col 1:10
“Belief consists in accepting the affirmations of the soul; unbelief, in denying them.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
Always recognize that human individuals are ends, and do not use them as means to your end. – Immanuel Kant
Unhappiness can be a bridge to happiness – Japanese Proverb
Rain is grace; rain is the sky descending to the earth;
without rain, there would be no life. – John Updike
The straight line belongs to men, the curved one to God. – Antoni Gaudi
When you drink the water, remember the spring. – Chinese proverb
Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.
– Louisa May Alcott
There is something of value from each experience along the way…
Be patient… “Truth is the daughter of time.” – Ancient proverb
Where you stand is up to you.
Change – Are You Ready to Let Go?
No man can reveal to you aught but that which already lies half asleep in the dawning of your knowledge. – Kahlil Gibran
Small things can often bring great joy…
On this path let the heart be your guide. – Rumi
Scatter joy..
There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior, like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Sometimes it can be easier to embrace sacred ground when surrounded by nature or in the midst of a spirit-filled celebration. Created in God’s image, sacred ground is anywhere we go.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, rely not on your own understanding;
In all your ways be mindful of the LORD, and the LORD will make straight your paths.
– Proverbs 3:5-6
Remember the marvels the Lord has done. – Psalm 105
In you, my God, I place my trust. – Psalm 91
Flourish… “Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.” – Confucius
“I have held many things in my hands, and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” – Martin Luther
The sky is the daily bread of the eyes. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Choose peace…
If you are in a hurry, you will never get there. – Chinese proverb
What the caterpillar calls the end of the world,
the Master calls a butterfly. – Richard Bach
Let light shine out of darkness. – 2 Cor 4:6
Pearls don’t lie on the seashore. If you want one, you must dive for it. – Chinese proverb
When you have trouble believing, remember that faith is a gift from God but love is a decision. If you can’t believe, decide to love. – Woodeene Koenig-Bricker
Photo credit: A.F. Kane
Possibilities… It seems that so much in life begins with believing.
A time for every thing…
Some things are hidden within, requiring us to slow down to catch a glimpse.
More Than Days… ready to be made new.
“When there is silence one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself.” – Lao Tzu
Take courage…
For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go.
— Psalm 91:11
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
The above is from the poem “For the Fallen” which was written by the British poet, Laurence Binyon, in 1914, at the beginning of WWI.
Over 100 years later, there are many throughout the world who lose their lives, in one way or another, defending, serving, and protecting others; ultimately in the name of close held values and beliefs.
Today, in the United States of America, Memorial Day is celebrated in gratitude and in honor of them. It is good to give thanks for the lives of others and their service, to remember them, and to reflect on the values and beliefs that we hold.
Faithfulness… In what ways am I faithful? To what and to whom?
The Land of the Living… we share pieces of ourselves wherever we go…
The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith. – Billy Graham
All I have seen teaches me to trust the Creator for all I have not seen. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. – Mahatma Gandhi
In what do we take delight?
The only way to genuine freedom is through Truth.
Origin. Remember who you are… remember from where you came…
In a world that keeps urging me to sprint, my soul whispers slow down. Each time I listen, I am amazed… struck by awe and wonder… how blessed we are.
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul.” – Thomas Merton
HopeThatFloats 