Psalm 23
Changing the world one step at a time
St. Theresa gave us the "Little Way";
to give always,even in the little things,
not concerning ouselves with results.
She died when she was 24.
She still inspires today.
Often we are idle
not knowing what to do,
our concerns are big enough
how can we help the world?
Jonah in the belly of a fish,
facing death
realized that his life was ebbing away.*
Lord, don't let me just be taken by
the current or change in the wind.
Help me direct my path so that
I can live a purposeful life!
Jesus answers,
"How often I have desired to gather
you under my wings as
a hen gathers her brood!"**
Oh feminine side of God
bring me back to the place
I need to be.
Help me to contribute
and be of use!
His disciples answer,
"Do not be idle,
and do not be weary
of doing what is right!"***
O Lord of Labor,
How can I?
When I have been out of
work so long?
I do I motivate?
They all answer,
"Let mutual love continue.
Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers,
for you may be
entertaining angels!"****
Holy Trinity,
Help me to continue to
give my heart even in the
small things.
Your thoughts are higher
than my thoughts Oh Lord,
Your ways higher, too.
If you purpose me to do so,
I will succeed.*****
Give me the heart
of David approaching Goliath!
Though his stones were small,
the giant was no more.
In these troubled times,
In these troubled times,
we need your love more than ever.
Turn our heads in another direction
to see the light of a new day!
*Jonah 2: 1.Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish,2.saying, "I called to the Lord out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.3.You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.4.Then I said, "I am driven away from your sight; how shall I look again upon your holy temple?'5.The waters closed in over me; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head6.at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the Pit, O Lord my God.7.As my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
**Luke 13: 31.At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you."32.He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, "Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.33.Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.'34.Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!35.See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
***2 Thessalonias 3: 7.For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,8.and we did not eat anyone's bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.9.This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.10.For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.11.For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.12.Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.13.Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
****Hebrews 13: 1.Let mutual love continue.2.Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.
*****Isaiah 55: 8.For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.9.For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.10.For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11.so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.12.For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
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Stathi Stathi
sarah brennan
Annie Keeghan
maria heng
Joan H.
Chandra Kamaria
Salon.com
Comments
Often we are idle
not knowing what to do,
our concerns are big enough
how can we help the world?
and then you quote this which is just stunning:
For you shall go out in joy, and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
the day sings.
we cannot do it all. we do what we can. there's a choice here, do we listen only to our sorrow? or can we allow ourselves to hear our song?
your paintings are so beautiful and your poetry poignant today. I wish I could give you a hug. consider yourself mentally hugged! a big one!
As for being published on this, I would tell you to just know you will be. I'm sure you'll have a bursting-forth moment, where people can't get enough of you--like me, and others here!
(There's a story about St. Therese not believing she was good/important? enough to be published, too, and yet she's written something so important! Hmm...)