To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone and everything is to succumb to violence. More than that, it is cooperation in violence. The frenzy of the activist neutralizes his work for peace. It destroys his own inner capacity for peace. It destroys the fruitfulness of his own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful. — Thomas Merton in Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
I would say that Merton is speaking to more than the activists. It has always been tempting as a pastor and retired military chaplain to overcommit and to stretch myself too thin. This isn’t necessarily the purview of those who are religious leaders. It is the purview of every one of us. In our efforts to prove that we are valuable and indispensable, we run the risk of damaging our heart and our soul.
Lord, help me to take sacred pauses throughout the day. May I take moments to simply be still in your presence. This is my own prayer and my prayer for you, dear reader.
Verse of the day
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
– Matthew 5:6
Voice of the day
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.
– Elie Wiesel
Prayer of the day Increase this hunger and thirst for justice within me.
“Building Beloved Community isn’t just about loving the people who are easy to love. Friends, family, community, those with similar value systems, similar cultural or political perspectives. No love is ALWAYS easy, but if we’re not struggling to hold love for those that are different than us, those that we don’t hang out with, don’t work with, don’t see eye-to-eye with, then we’re not doing the work of building Beloved Community.”—Kazu Haga
“There is a yearning in the heart for peace. Because of the wounds and rejections we have received in past relationships, we are frightened by the risks. In our fear, we discount the dream of authentic community as merely visionary. But there are rules by which people can come back together, by which the old wounds can be healed. The purpose of Community Building is to teach these rules—to make hope real again—and to make the vision actually manifest in a world which has almost forgotten the glory of what it means to be human.”—M. Scott Peck, MD
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
What an amazing day with family
To celebrate the union of two beloved individuals
So much love and laughter
Such deep connections
So many blessings
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
What a wonderful day of blessings, Lord
Breakfast with two very dear friends
Time spent with our youngest son
A delightful wedding rehearsal and dinner with family who chooses you
There was so much love present this evening
There was so much hope and joy present too
As all prepare for tomorrow
Grant us all a restful night
And may Spirit bless the coming day and wedding
Now as my eyelids grow heavy I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
Verse of the day
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit.
– Psalm 34:18
Voice of the day
It is a serious thing / just to be alive / on this fresh morning / in the broken world.
– Mary Oliver, “Invitation”
Prayer of the day Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose.
– The Book of Common Prayer
“I am leaving this legacy to all of you . . . to bring peace, justice, equality, love, and a fulfillment of what our lives should be. Without vision, the people will perish and without courage and inspiration, dreams will die—the dream of freedom and peace.”—Rosa Parks
“We share with one another the creative work of living in the world. And it is through our struggle with material reality, with nature, that we help one another create at the same time our own destiny and a new world for our descendants.”—Thomas Merton
Verse of the day
Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
– Colossians 3:14
Voice of the day
The world would be a paradise of peace and justice if global citizens shared a common definition of love[.]
– bell hooks, “Building a Community of Love”
Prayer of the day May I be a mirror for your love. Help me to usher in your paradise.
