from Saint Francis of Assisi

All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle.

Hope in Bad Times

To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic...If we remember those times and places where people have behaved magnificently, this gives us energy to act, and at least the possibility of sending this spinning top of a world in a different direction.

Howard Zinn

STILL RELEVANT

originally posted                Friday, November 6, 2009             

A New POV for me anyway

"in ministry with rather than in ministry to" - Do you see the difference? I do not come to you as the lone giver in the relationship. I come to you with an open hand and an open heart ready to receive the gifts that you have to offer me as well as to give you the gifts that I have for you.

QUESTION
When will you and me become we?

from Brother Ben's Notebook

Saint Teresa's Bookmark

Let nothing disturb you;

Let nothing dismay you;

All things pass:

God never changes.

Patience attains all that it strives for.

One who has God

Lacks for nothing.

God alone suffices.

~St. Teresa of Avila

Seven Steps to Rebuilding Trust

        Boundaries

       Reliability

              Accountability

Vault

    Integrity

               Non-judgement

       Generosity

       ~Brene Brown

A TEST

This is a test only a test

Great Advice

Life is short,

Break the rules,

Forgive quickly,

Kiss slowly,

Love truly,

Laugh uncontrollably,

And never regret anything that made you Smile.

Life may not be the party we hoped for,

but while we're here we should

Dance....

~Anonymous

For A New Beginning -John O'Donohue

In out of the way places of the heart

Where your thoughts never think to wander

This beginning has been quietly forming

Waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire

Feeling the emptiness grow inside you

Noticing how you willed yourself on

Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety

And the grey promises that sameness whispered

Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent

Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,

And out you stepped onto new ground,

Your eyes young again with energy and dream

A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not clear

You can trust the promise of this opening;

Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning

That is one with your life’s desire.

Awaken your spirit to adventure

Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk

Soon you will be home in a new rhythm

For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

Body Prayer_ from Julian of Norwich

AWAIT(hands at waist, cupped up to receive): Await God’s presence, not as you
expect, hope, or imagine, but just as it is in this moment.

ALLOW(reach up, hands open): Allow a sense of God’s presence (or not) to come
and be what it is, without meeting your expectations.

ACCEPT(hands at heart, cupped towards body): Accept as a gift whatever comes or
does not come. Accept that you are not in charge. Accept the infinity of God’s
presence, present whether or not you are aware.

ATTEND(hands outstretched, ready to be responsive): Attend to what you are called
to, actions that God invites you to from this stance of openness.