The River

Letter 4468

Drip by drop, the water has worn its route through the field. A trickle, a creek, a stream, a river.

Day by month by year, these daily acts of mine have worn their way through my life.

❖

A great river runs through my days. What was a trickle is now a mighty current against which there is little use to row.

Let me work with the flow of this river, built drip by drop.

Consider:

Can I accept the fruits of long labor today?

Reading:

❖ “Dripping water hollows out a stone, a ring is worn away by use.” — Ovid, Epistulae ex Ponto

❖ “Nothing in the world is softer than water, yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong.” — Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

❖ “The waters wear the stones…” — Job 14:19 (KJV)

Thank you for for reading. If this helped you today, please consider sharing it.

~B.R.

Companions

Letter 4467

Walk with me today, Lord, just as I try to walk with you.

Who is with whom? Who supports whom?

❖

We are great companions.

Consider:

Can I walk with you today?

Reading:

❖ “Camerado, I give you my hand! I give you my love more precious than money… Will you come travel with me? Shall we stick by each other as long as we live?” — Walt Whitman, Song of the Open Road

❖ “Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left.” — St. Patrick’s Breastplate (attrib. St. Patrick)

❖ “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” — Amos 3:3 (KJV)

Thank you for for reading. If this helped you today, please consider sharing it.

~B.R.

Grasping

Letter 4466

Desperate for relief, I hold onto those habits of the morning that bring it.

Desperate for security, I hoard my income.

Desperate for joy, I smile and smile in the rain.

❖

Lord, open my eyes to see through the illusion that I need repair. Let me not grasp so tightly to rescue.

Consider:

Can I have peace today?

Reading:

❖ “Seek not that the things which happen should happen as you wish; but wish the things which happen to be as they are, and you will have a tranquil flow of life.” — Epictetus, Enchiridion

❖ “Letting go gives us freedom, and freedom is the only condition for happiness.” — Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching

❖ “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” — Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)

Thank you for for reading. If this helped you today, please consider sharing it.

~B.R.

Your Instrument

Letter 4465

I say I wish to be your instrument, Lord, but how willing am I in truth?

I shy away from effort. Prior to the task, I frantically hope for relief. If the assignment is difficult, I may try to deliver barely adequate work.

❖

If I am to proclaim willingness, Lord, let me truly be willing.

Consider:

Can I live a willing life today?

Reading:

❖ “Only let me make my life simple and straight, like a flute of reed for thee to fill with music.” — Rabindranath Tagore, Gitanjali

❖ “We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.” — Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God

❖ “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” — Matthew 26:41 (KJV)

Thank you for for reading. If this helped you today, please consider sharing it.

~B.R.