Saturday, October 29, 2011

The Valley of Vision



Lord, HIGH AND HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY,
Thou has brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the corwn,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is a place of vision,

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;

Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty,
thy glory in my valley.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STRENGTH AND COURAGE




It takes strength to be firm.
It takes courage to be gentle.

It takes strength to stand guard.
It takes courage to let down your guard.

It takes strength to conquer
It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to be certain.
It takes courage to have doubt.

It takes strength to fit in.
It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to feel a friend's pain.
It takes courage to feel your own pain.

It takes strength to hide feelings.
It takes courage to show them.

It takes strength to endure abuse.
It takes courage to stop it.

It takes strength to stand alone.
It takes courage to lean on another.

It takes strength to love.
It takes courage to be loved.

It takes strength to survive.
It takes courage to live.

"....as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage...." (Joshua 1:5b-6a)

-- Author Unknown

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Thoughts on Pain...



There's something else invaluable about pain. It can make you more sensitive, more compassionate, more understanding, and more creative.


Beethoven, for instance, composed one of his greatest oratorios after he became deaf. John Milton wrote one of his greatest poems after he became blind. Walter Scott wrote "The Lay of the Last Minstrel" after he was kicked by a horse and confined to his house for many days.


Those who have given the world the most are often those who have suffered the most. This is because those who have suffered the most tend to understand life and people the most.


One of my favorite stories is told about Renoir, the famous French painter. Apparently, when he was older, he suffered greatly from arthritis, but he kept

painting anyhow. On one occasion his friend, Matisse, said to him, "Renoir, why do you keep painting when you are in so much pain?"

Renoir simply replied, "The pain passes, but the beauty remains."

When it comes to your pain, if you invest it wisely by using it to help yourself grow and reach out to nurture other hurting people, your pain, too, will pass, but the beauty of what you have done will remain forever.


Remember, it's one thing to hurt. It's another thing to allow your pain to hurt you. Accept your hurt as an opportunity to heal, to grow, and to become a more understanding, sensitive, compassionate, real, and creative person. It has been costly. Don't waste it. Invest it wisely in your own growth and in the enrichment of other people's lives as well.

Daily Encounter

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Take time


Take time to think – it is the source of power.
Take time to play – it is the secret of perpetual youth.
Take time to read – it is the fountain of wisdom.
Take time to dream – it is hitching your wagon to a star.
Take time to pray – it is the greatest power on earth.
Take time to love and be loved – it is a God-given privilege.
Take time to be friendly – it is the road to happiness.
Take time to laugh – it is the music of the soul.
Take time to give – it is too short a day to be selfish.
Take time to work – it is the price of success.
Old English Prayer

A Franciscan Benediction


May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
Amen

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Top Ten Reasons Eve Was Created



Top Ten Reasons Eve Was Created

10. God was worried that Adam would frequently become lost in the garden because he would not ask for directions.

9. God knew that one day Adam would require someone to locate and hand him the remote.


8. God knew Adam would never go out and buy himself a new fig leaf when his wore out and would therefore need Eve to buy one for him.


7. God knew Adam would never be able to make a doctor's, dentist, or haircut appointment for himself.


6. God knew Adam would never remember which night to put he garbage on the curb.


5. God knew if the world was to be populated, men would never be able to handle the pain and discomfort of childbearing.


4. As the Keeper of the Garden, Adam would never remember where he left his tools.


3. Apparently, Adam needed someone to blame his troubles on when God caught him hiding in the garden.


2. As the Bible says, It is not good for man to be alone!


1. When God finished the creation of Adam, He stepped back, scratched his head, and said, "I can do better than that.