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.

Presence

Letter 4464

You were here with me when I retired last night, are you still here at dawn?

I am already rushing into the day — I may not see you.

❖

Lord, let me slow my walk, and experience your nearness.

Consider:

Can I draw nearer to God today?

Reading:

❖ “The world is too much with us; late and soon, getting and spending, we lay waste our powers.” — William Wordsworth, “The World Is Too Much with Us”

❖ “As the body is clad in the cloth… so are we, soul and body, clad in the goodness of God, and enclosed.” — Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love

❖ “If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.” — Psalm 139:9–10 (KJV)

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

~B.R.

What I Bring

Letter 4463

To my chores, let me add cheerfulness.

To my wandering, let me add purpose.

To my craftwork, let me add devotion.

To my fleeing, let me add calm.

To my worry, let me add acceptance.

❖

My day is more than what happens to me; it is also what I bring to it.

To this day, let me bring willingness.

Consider:

Can I do my part to be willing?

Reading:

❖ “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” — Viktor Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning

❖ “We must allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.” — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

❖ “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” — 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

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

~B.R.