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JOHN DONNE
March 2010

ASK WHAT I SHOULD GIVE YOU
January 2010

     The Lord said to Solomon: “Ask what I should give you?” What would you say if God asked you to name what he would give you? Here are some things I might ask for:

A willingness to stir your Spirit within me,
Forgiveness of my hardness of heart,
The conviction to show forth in my deeds what I profess by my faith,
Service that contributes to the well-being of others,
The strength and courage to do the work you have given me to do,
And a life so lived that the best of me will live on in others.

                                                                   
                                                               Amen.

November, 2009

ADVICE FROM A TREE

By Ilan Shamir

Dear Friend,

Stand tall and proud

Sink your roots deeply into the Earth

Think long term

Go out on a limb

Remember your place among all living beings

Embrace with joy the changing seasons

For each yield its own abundances

The Energy and Birth of Spring

The Growth and Contentment of Summer

The Wisdom to let go of leaves in the Fall

The Rest and Quiet Renewal of Winter

Feel the wind and the sun

And delight in their presence

Look up at the moon that shines down upon you

And the mystery of the stars at night

Seek nourishment from the good things in life

Simple pleasures

Earth, fresh air, light

Be content with natural beauty

Drink plenty of water

Let you limbs sway and dance in the breezes

Be flexible

Remember your roots

Enjoy the view!

ILLNESS
August 2009

     At some point in time in our lives, we are tested. I was for the past 3 months,
by illness: a ruptured spinal disc, failed conservative therapy, neurosurgery,
rerupture, and repeat surgery. When you’re in pain and off your feet for so
long, and your care is at the mercy of others, one thinks deeply.

     We pray in the Lord’s Prayer that God will “deliver us from the time of
trial”, but we do not pray to be “spared” the time of trial. Why do you suppose
God allows us to suffer? Perhaps it’s because character is built when we
encounter hardship. Generosity, selflessness, fortitude, courage, patience,
gentleness, self-control – in short, godliness – is only cultivated in the crucible.

    I offer you a prayer that asks God for the right kind of spirit in the course of
being hospitalized or any similar challenge.

Let us pray.
Dear Lord:
This is another day. I know not what it will bring forth,
but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be.
It I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely.
If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly.
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently.
If I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly.
And since I cannot do this alone, rekindle your spirit within me.
                                                                                           Amen.

(With assistance from The Reverend Theodore Parker Ferris)

MATERIAL POSSESSIONS
March 2009

Sometimes we are tempted to think if we could accumulate a sufficient nest egg, we could relax and have time for what we consider the most important things in life: quality time with family and friends… I have an unsettling feeling some fallacy lies hidden in this logic, that I am missing some liberating paradox of biblical proportions. A story of Anthony de Mello, a priest from India reminds us of that paradox.

The rich industrialist…was horrified to find a fisherman lying leisurely beside his boat.
“Why aren’t you fishing? asked the industrialist.
“Because I’ve caught enough fish for today,” said the fisherman.
“Why don’t you catch some more?”
“What would I do with them?”
“You could earn more money,” was the reply. “With that you could fix a motor to your boat, go into deeper waters and catch more fish. Then you would make enough to buy nylon nets. These would bring you more fish and more money. Soon you would have enough money to own two boats… maybe even a fleet of boats. Then you would be a rich man like me.”
“What would I do then?”
“Then you could really enjoy life.”
“What do you think I’m doing right now?”

Dear Lord:
As we are able, instead of being resentful and remorseful in today’s trying economic times,
Help us to recognize and enjoy the present blessings of our lives;
And to realize that
“One’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions…”
                       Luke 12:15
                                                                              Amen.