Another poem given to me by a very special friend…
Another poem given to me by a very special friend…
A poem from one of my students… Serenity is what I crave most. Yet, the highway is littered with rejection, close-mindedness, and powerlessness. I surrender myself to my higher power. The adversities that plagued me once before now evaporate like the wind from a sail. The feeling of complete peace overwhelms […]
I have been thinking of the difference between water and the waves on it. Rising, water’s still water, falling back; it is water. Will you give me a hint how to tell them apart? Because someone has made up the word “wave,” do I have to distinguish it from water? There is a Secret One […]
One ship drives east and another drives west With the selfsame winds that blow. ‘Tis the set of the sails And not the gales Which tells us the way to go. Like the winds of the sea are the ways of fate, As we voyage along through life. ‘Tis the set of the soul That […]
God forgave you long ago. You need to learn to forgive yourself. God does not hold you back. You hold yourself back. When are you going to let go? If you have repented, if you have turned back toward God, if you have asked God to forgive, then why do you still hold on to […]
To your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your heart. To a customer, service. To all men, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect. — Author unknown
Of Courtesy, it is much less Than Courage of Heart or Holiness, Yet in my walks it seems to me That the Grace of God is in Courtesy — Hilaire Belloc John Saward, in his article, “The Grace of God in Courtesy” (via Flos Carmeli), writes about courtesy as part of all of the virtues: […]
on this deep sea of sadness / faith’s fishing boat / trawls the solemn depths / and in my nets joy collects / like slow fish / fat from feeding / in the deep darkness — H.J. Hughes
Baby feet love to play. They are fresh and smooth and soft and plump. They are not yet worn flat by the weight and toil of living life, and cramped by constricting shoes. They are sensitive and responsive, with a fetal-like curl to the slightest touch. Their toes wiggle with a joy for life, stretching to reach their full spread, to their full potential. They are happy with anticipation, of skipping and hopping up the path, back to home in heaven.
Isn’t it strange that princes and kings, and clowns that caper in sawdust rings, and common folks like you and me are builders of eternity? …
My life is but a weaving Between my Lord and me, I cannot choose the colors He worketh steadily. Oftimes he weaveth sorrow, And I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper And I, the underside. Not till the loom is silent And the shuttles cease to fly Shall God unroll the canvas And […]
The Good ShepherdCatacombs of Rome, 284 AD The Savior, thus the good pastor, which means the good shepherd, Carries this sheep on piggyback, the sheep that was lost, that was going to get lost So that the stones in the path wouldn’t bruise its bruise feet. Because […]
God, whose love and joy are present everywhere, can’t come to visit you unless you aren’t there. — Angelus Silesius
Every opening flower proclaims the glory of god. Every grain of wheat illustrates for us God’s providence. Every drop of rain proclaims God’s concern for the welfare of all people everywhere. Every rainbow symbolizes the promise of a better tomorrow. — Leroy Koopman
The Spring blew trumpets of color; Her Green sang in my brain — I heard a blind man groping “Tap-tap” with his cane; I pitied him in his blindness; But can I boast, “I see”? Perhaps there walks a spirit Close by, who pities me, — A spirit who hears me tapping The five-sensed cane […]
I saw the Conquerors riding by With cruel lip and face wan: Musing on kingdoms sacked and burned There rode the Mongol Genghis Khan; And Alexander, like a God, Who sought to weld the world in one: And Caesar with his laurel wreath; And like a thing from hell, the Hun; And leading, like a […]
I am their father, says God. Our Father who art in heaven. My Son told them often enough that I was their father. I am their judge. But I am especially their father. He who is a father is above all a father. Our Father who art in heaven. He who has once […]
A journal entry of mine about depression inspired Mea at ignispati to write about hope. Yesterday, I stumbled upon this poem about hope from an old French poet while looking for something else. How apropos… I AM, God says, Master of the Three Virtues. Faith is a loyal wife. Charity is a fervent mother. But […]
To you, O Lord, I lift my soul. 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, and for you I wait all the day. Good and upright is the Lord; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the Lord is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.
When I say, “I am a Christian,” I’m not shouting “I am saved.” I am whispering, “I was lost.” That’s why I chose His way. When I say, “I am a Christian,” I don’t speak of this with pride. I’m confessing that I stumble Needing God to be my guide. When I say, “I am […]