If a man is convinced that he is safe only as long as he uses his power to give others a sense of insecurity, then the measure of their security is in his hands. If security or insecurity is at the mercy of a single individual or group, then control of behavior becomes routine. All imperialism functions in this way. — Howard Thurman from Jesus and the Disinherited
Every now and then I return to the below prayer from Thomas Merton. It had guided me through times of uncertainty and transition. It speaks once more to me this day.
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following Your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please You
does in fact please You.
And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am doing.
And I know that if I do this,
You will lead me by the right road
although I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust You always,
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for You are ever with me,
and will never leave me
to face my perils alone.
From Thoughts in Solitide
“The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.”—Thomas Merton
We visited the campus a week ago and I truly felt at home. As I consider the Jesuit founders of the university, I can’t help but think of Fr. Daniel Berrigan and his work (along with my other spiritual mentors, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton) as I look at all of the fear, hatred, and violence in this country and in the world.
The following quote by Fr Berrigan was shared by Fr John Dear in the blog Daniel Berrigan and his fearless nonviolence, at 100. It makes sense to me and gives me hope as I seek to live my life in this upside down world.
“One is called to live nonviolently, even if the change one works for seems impossible. It may or may not be possible to turn the United States around through nonviolent revolution. But one thing favors such an attempt: the total inability of violence to change anything for the better.”
My mentors give me hope and strength, even in the midst of the chaos.
People in the second half of life are not preoccupied with collecting more goods and services; quite simply, their desire and effort—every day—is to give back to the world a bit of what they have received. They now realize that they have been gratuitously given to—from the universe, from society, and from God. They try now to ‘‘live simply so that others can simply live.’ — Falling Upward
“Thresholds are potent doorways between the old and the new. When we step onto a threshold in our lives we release an old identity or old patterns and we await the new birthing.”
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD The Love of Thousands: How Angels, Saints, and Ancestors Walk with Us Toward Holiness
Are you ready to open yourself to the uncomfortableness of not knowing what will come next and simply rest in a space of waiting, standing on the threshold between the old and the new?
“I cannot teach you violence, as I do not myself believe in it. I can only teach you not to bow your heads before anyone even at the cost of your life.”—Mohandas Gandhi
Verse of the day
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
– 1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)
Voice of the day
Passivity is easy, but it is not righteous.
– Jemar Tisby
Prayer of the day
With clear minds and hearts, we take action to do what is right in your eyes, Lord.
November 8, 1897 – November 29, 1980
Love and ever more love is the only solution to every problem that comes up. If we love each other enough, we will bear with each other’s faults and burdens. If we love enough, we are going to light a fire in the hearts of others.
And it is love that will burn out the sins and hatreds that sadden us. It is love that will make us want to do great things for each other. No sacrifice and no suffering will then seem too much. — Dorothy Day in House of Hospitality
Verse of the day
Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.”
– Matthew 21:12-13
Voice of the day
Anger is not a shortcoming to be denied, but a creative force that tells us when something is wrong.
– Austin Channing Brown
Prayer of the day
Jesus, we recognize our anger. Help us to channel our anger into creative solutions as we speak truth to power.
