Wisdom
Wisdom is regarded as the sibling
virtue of morality. If an individual
is to do good, the tenets of the heart
must be informed and directed by
a well-ordered mind. Prudence
would rather be the ability to
govern and discipline oneself
by the use of reason. It means
being able to recognize the right
choice in a specific circumstances,
and it was the intellecutal virtue
that made it possible for the moral
virtues into action.
Priscilla
Forever in our hearts
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Life's Journey
The first lessons we learned from home
stay with us long after we leave home,
In our affection and our memories,
they remain forever a part of us,
often the most cherished part of us.
The moral journey that begins with
leaving home is the search for opportunities
to offer others the same nurture and love
we received in our own childhood.
The memory of home becomes a past,
an experience, an ideal we seek to recreate
in our later lives, and in the new lives
we shepherd into the world.
We build our own homes,
offer our own lessons, nurture
our own children in the strength
and knowledge once gained
beside the first warm hearth
of our home.
The first lessons we learned from home
stay with us long after we leave home,
In our affection and our memories,
they remain forever a part of us,
often the most cherished part of us.
The moral journey that begins with
leaving home is the search for opportunities
to offer others the same nurture and love
we received in our own childhood.
The memory of home becomes a past,
an experience, an ideal we seek to recreate
in our later lives, and in the new lives
we shepherd into the world.
We build our own homes,
offer our own lessons, nurture
our own children in the strength
and knowledge once gained
beside the first warm hearth
of our home.
Lessons from Home
We find family members helping each other
along, and looking toward each other for help.
We find siblings showing what fraternity really
mean. We see children learning about chores
and responsibilities and self-sacrifice, and learning
to help parents out of love. We encounter young
hearts giving loving obedience. We witness
the growth of conscience, of desire to live up
to the expectations of those who love us.
We witness how our loyalty and courage
and perseverance see families through
hard times with a love that can overcome
any number of obstacles.
We find family members helping each other
along, and looking toward each other for help.
We find siblings showing what fraternity really
mean. We see children learning about chores
and responsibilities and self-sacrifice, and learning
to help parents out of love. We encounter young
hearts giving loving obedience. We witness
the growth of conscience, of desire to live up
to the expectations of those who love us.
We witness how our loyalty and courage
and perseverance see families through
hard times with a love that can overcome
any number of obstacles.
Home and Hearth
All children need bread and shelter.
But a true home is much more than that.
Children need love and order.
The transmission of virtues is one
important reason for a home and
attention to the virtues is one of the
important ties that bind a family
together.
Home is the place where we receive
our first instructions. It is our first
moral training ground, a place where
we come to differentiate right from
wrong through the nurturing and
protective care of those who love us.
Our character takes shape under the
guidance of instructions. In the familiar
world of home and hearth, we learn the
habits of virtue that will fortify us when
we venture into the world.
All children need bread and shelter.
But a true home is much more than that.
Children need love and order.
The transmission of virtues is one
important reason for a home and
attention to the virtues is one of the
important ties that bind a family
together.
Home is the place where we receive
our first instructions. It is our first
moral training ground, a place where
we come to differentiate right from
wrong through the nurturing and
protective care of those who love us.
Our character takes shape under the
guidance of instructions. In the familiar
world of home and hearth, we learn the
habits of virtue that will fortify us when
we venture into the world.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Daily Cue
The sound of a bell, a church chime
or the stroke of a clock is a cue
for me to pray.
When I see a candle, I am reminded
to focus my devotion to God.
Blessed is the beloved
who is worshipped and served
through our devotion.
A devotional life is one lived
in the presence of the Lord.
Be happy that this garden
pleases God.
The sound of a bell, a church chime
or the stroke of a clock is a cue
for me to pray.
When I see a candle, I am reminded
to focus my devotion to God.
Blessed is the beloved
who is worshipped and served
through our devotion.
A devotional life is one lived
in the presence of the Lord.
Be happy that this garden
pleases God.
Trusting God's timing
God has an appointed time
to answer our prayers
and to bring our dreams to pass.
It is still going to happen
on God's timetable.
The vision is for an appointed time,
though it is tarry, wait earnestly for it,
for it will come to pass.
Why not be happy while God is
in the process of changing things.
Relax and enjoy life - while knowing
that God is going to bring His plan
to pas at His appointed time.
Let God change you
in His own way
and in His own timing.
Be patient. It is not the right time.
God sees the big picture.
All the pieces have to come together
for it to be God's perfect timing.
Let God do it His way.
God has an appointed time
to answer our prayers
and to bring our dreams to pass.
It is still going to happen
on God's timetable.
The vision is for an appointed time,
though it is tarry, wait earnestly for it,
for it will come to pass.
Why not be happy while God is
in the process of changing things.
Relax and enjoy life - while knowing
that God is going to bring His plan
to pas at His appointed time.
Let God change you
in His own way
and in His own timing.
Be patient. It is not the right time.
God sees the big picture.
All the pieces have to come together
for it to be God's perfect timing.
Let God do it His way.
Spiritual Practices
Spiritual practices are activities you do
to deepen your relationship with the sacred.
You relate in particular way your inner self,
other people and the world around you.
We are what we practice:
If we become angry a lot,
essentially, we are practicing
anger. If we practice being
joyful, then a joyful person is
what we become.
We are practicing all kinds of things
all the time, but the decision to do
spiritual practices is INTENTIONAL.
Spirituality is not about goals, creeds
and dogmas; it is about EXPERIENCE.
Spiritual practices are activities you do
to deepen your relationship with the sacred.
You relate in particular way your inner self,
other people and the world around you.
We are what we practice:
If we become angry a lot,
essentially, we are practicing
anger. If we practice being
joyful, then a joyful person is
what we become.
We are practicing all kinds of things
all the time, but the decision to do
spiritual practices is INTENTIONAL.
Spirituality is not about goals, creeds
and dogmas; it is about EXPERIENCE.
Love matters
"A person's body absorbs and stores
all the love it receives in the course
of a lifetime, and when the body dies,
it pours out all that love "like a broken
slot machine disgorging the coins of all
generations," and all the people nearby,
and all the world, are warmed by the
love that has been returned to them."
[Yehuda Amichai]
People die, but LOVE does not die.
It is recycled from one heart, from
one life, to another.
By being good people, by bringing
good people together to form moral
communities, we have an impact in
the world.
"To leave the world a bit better, whether
by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a
redeemed social condition; to know that
even one life has breathed easier because
you lived, that you have succeeded."
[Ralph Waldo Emerson]
A good person even in death is still alive.
The most reliable way to matter to
the world is to love the people closest to us.
Faith begins where human self sufficiency ends.
When we realize we can do many marvelous things
but we can't do everything.
"A person's body absorbs and stores
all the love it receives in the course
of a lifetime, and when the body dies,
it pours out all that love "like a broken
slot machine disgorging the coins of all
generations," and all the people nearby,
and all the world, are warmed by the
love that has been returned to them."
[Yehuda Amichai]
People die, but LOVE does not die.
It is recycled from one heart, from
one life, to another.
By being good people, by bringing
good people together to form moral
communities, we have an impact in
the world.
"To leave the world a bit better, whether
by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a
redeemed social condition; to know that
even one life has breathed easier because
you lived, that you have succeeded."
[Ralph Waldo Emerson]
A good person even in death is still alive.
The most reliable way to matter to
the world is to love the people closest to us.
Faith begins where human self sufficiency ends.
When we realize we can do many marvelous things
but we can't do everything.
Why we matter most
I believe that whoever we are,
and however much or little
we accomplish in our lives,
we matter to God.
God has shown me how to invest
the most mundane moments
of my life with holiness.
"The nicest feeling in the world
is to do a good deed anonymously
and have somebody find out."
[Oscar Wilde]
"Few of us can do great things
but all of us can do small things
with great love."
[Mother Teresa]
We are the supporting cast of
a great and on going drama,
and it is our inestimable privilege
to be part of it.
Goodness and Love are two of
the experiences that assure us
that our lives have mattered
to the world, that we have
not lived in vain.
We ourselves shall be loved
for a while and forgotten,
but the love will have been
enough... There is land of
the living and a land of the dead,
and the bridge is LOVE,
the only survival, the only meaning.
[Thornton Wilder]
I believe that whoever we are,
and however much or little
we accomplish in our lives,
we matter to God.
God has shown me how to invest
the most mundane moments
of my life with holiness.
"The nicest feeling in the world
is to do a good deed anonymously
and have somebody find out."
[Oscar Wilde]
"Few of us can do great things
but all of us can do small things
with great love."
[Mother Teresa]
We are the supporting cast of
a great and on going drama,
and it is our inestimable privilege
to be part of it.
Goodness and Love are two of
the experiences that assure us
that our lives have mattered
to the world, that we have
not lived in vain.
We ourselves shall be loved
for a while and forgotten,
but the love will have been
enough... There is land of
the living and a land of the dead,
and the bridge is LOVE,
the only survival, the only meaning.
[Thornton Wilder]
The Holy Fool
"God gives us burdens and
God gives us shoulders."
The "Holy Fool" is the person of
simple faith whose uncomplicated
joy at being in the presence of God
is more authentically religious than
prayers and sermons of learned
theologians.
The fool sees the truth more than
anyone else.
There is a place in heaven for fools
whereas heaven's gate will be closed
to the clever, cruel and calculating
people who embittered his life.
TAM is a word of Hebrew origin
meaning, plain, simple, uncomplicated.
"God gives us burdens and
God gives us shoulders."
The "Holy Fool" is the person of
simple faith whose uncomplicated
joy at being in the presence of God
is more authentically religious than
prayers and sermons of learned
theologians.
The fool sees the truth more than
anyone else.
There is a place in heaven for fools
whereas heaven's gate will be closed
to the clever, cruel and calculating
people who embittered his life.
TAM is a word of Hebrew origin
meaning, plain, simple, uncomplicated.
Spiritual Life
Spiritual life is the life of man's real self,
the life of that interior self whose flame
is so often allowed to be smothered under
the ashes of anxiety and futile concern.
The Spiritual life is oriented toward God,
rather than toward the immediate satisfaction
of the material needs of life, but it is not,
for all that, a life of unreality or a life of
dreams. On the contrary, without life of
the spirit, our whole existence becomes
unsubstantial and illusory.
The Life of the spirit, by integrating us
in the real order established by God,
puts us in the fullest possible contact
with reality - not as we imagine it,
but as it really is. It does so by making us
aware of our own selves, and placing them
in the presence of God.
[Fr. M. Louis, OCSO]
Spiritual life is the life of man's real self,
the life of that interior self whose flame
is so often allowed to be smothered under
the ashes of anxiety and futile concern.
The Spiritual life is oriented toward God,
rather than toward the immediate satisfaction
of the material needs of life, but it is not,
for all that, a life of unreality or a life of
dreams. On the contrary, without life of
the spirit, our whole existence becomes
unsubstantial and illusory.
The Life of the spirit, by integrating us
in the real order established by God,
puts us in the fullest possible contact
with reality - not as we imagine it,
but as it really is. It does so by making us
aware of our own selves, and placing them
in the presence of God.
[Fr. M. Louis, OCSO]
Lesson of a lifetime
My son, when you come to serve the Lord
prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
undisturbed in times of adversity.
Cling to Him, forsake Him not;
thus will your future be great.
Accept whatever befalls you,
in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold is tested
and worthy men in the crucible
of humiliation.
TRUST GOD and He will help you,
make straight your ways
and hope in Him.
You, who fear the Lord,
wait for His mercy.
Turn not away lest you fall.
You, who fear the Lord,
trust Him and
your reward will not be lost.
You, who fear the Lord,
hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
Study the generations long past
and understand, has anyone hoped
in the Lord and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in His fear
and been forsaken? Has anyone called
upon Him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord,
He forgives sins,
He saves in times of trouble.
[Sirach 2:1-11]
My son, when you come to serve the Lord
prepare yourself for trials.
Be sincere of heart and steadfast,
undisturbed in times of adversity.
Cling to Him, forsake Him not;
thus will your future be great.
Accept whatever befalls you,
in crushing misfortune be patient;
For in fire gold is tested
and worthy men in the crucible
of humiliation.
TRUST GOD and He will help you,
make straight your ways
and hope in Him.
You, who fear the Lord,
wait for His mercy.
Turn not away lest you fall.
You, who fear the Lord,
trust Him and
your reward will not be lost.
You, who fear the Lord,
hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
Study the generations long past
and understand, has anyone hoped
in the Lord and been disappointed?
Has anyone persevered in His fear
and been forsaken? Has anyone called
upon Him and been rebuffed?
Compassionate and merciful is the Lord,
He forgives sins,
He saves in times of trouble.
[Sirach 2:1-11]
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Lord, sometimes You have to
... break, so You can rebuild
... wound, so You can heal
... let me walk in darkness,
so that I see Your light
... let me be confused,
so I seek Your truth
... let me feel emptiness
so you can fill me
... let me feel lonely, so I
can see what a friend You are
... let me learn the hard things,
so I can be a gentle teacher
... let me be void of feelings,
so I must walk by faith
... take away my future plans,
to teach me to live one day at a time.
... show me the futility of life,
so I will see that everything is loss
compared to the surpassing value
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
[Sue Knepp]
... break, so You can rebuild
... wound, so You can heal
... let me walk in darkness,
so that I see Your light
... let me be confused,
so I seek Your truth
... let me feel emptiness
so you can fill me
... let me feel lonely, so I
can see what a friend You are
... let me learn the hard things,
so I can be a gentle teacher
... let me be void of feelings,
so I must walk by faith
... take away my future plans,
to teach me to live one day at a time.
... show me the futility of life,
so I will see that everything is loss
compared to the surpassing value
of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
[Sue Knepp]
THANKSGIVING
Count your blessings instead of crosses;
Count your gain instead of losses.
Count your joys instead of woes;
Count your friends instead of foes.
Count your smiles instead of tears;
Count your courage instead of fears.
Count your full years instead of lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of mean.
Count your health instead of wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself!
Count your blessings instead of crosses;
Count your gain instead of losses.
Count your joys instead of woes;
Count your friends instead of foes.
Count your smiles instead of tears;
Count your courage instead of fears.
Count your full years instead of lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of mean.
Count your health instead of wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself!
TIME
Time is God's gift to mortal man.
It is that fleeting little span
Between our birth and heaven's door,
Where we begin God's ever more
When time is over.
How then, should we our time employ?
In service or in passing joy?
Can we afford to throw away
And squander time in passing play -
O men of clay?
[Neighbor]
Time is God's gift to mortal man.
It is that fleeting little span
Between our birth and heaven's door,
Where we begin God's ever more
When time is over.
How then, should we our time employ?
In service or in passing joy?
Can we afford to throw away
And squander time in passing play -
O men of clay?
[Neighbor]
LESSONS TO LEARN
Take time to work
It is the price of success.
Take time to think
It is the source of power.
Take time to play
It is the secret of youth.
Take time to read
It is the foundation of knowledge.
Take time to worship
It is the highway of reverence.
Take time to help and enjoy friends
It is the source of happiness.
Take time to love
It is the one sacrament of life.
Take time to dream
It hitches the soul to the stars.
Take time to pray
It helps bring Christ near.
Take time to work
It is the price of success.
Take time to think
It is the source of power.
Take time to play
It is the secret of youth.
Take time to read
It is the foundation of knowledge.
Take time to worship
It is the highway of reverence.
Take time to help and enjoy friends
It is the source of happiness.
Take time to love
It is the one sacrament of life.
Take time to dream
It hitches the soul to the stars.
Take time to pray
It helps bring Christ near.
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