Slow me down, Lord
Ease the pounding of my heart by
quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vison of
the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the cofusion of the day
the calmness of the everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and
muscles with the soothing music of the
singing streams that live in my memory.
Help me to know the magical, restoring
power of sleep.
Teach me the art of taking minute
vacations - of slowing down to look at a
flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog,
to read a few lines from a good book.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to
send my roots deep into the soil of life's
enduring values that I may grow toward the
stars of ny greater destiny.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Interview with God
I dreamed I had an interview with God.
So you would like to interview me? God asked.
if you have time, i said .
God smiled.
my time is eternity .... what questions do you have in mind for me?
what surprises you must about human kind?
God answered...
that they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.
that they lose their health to make money ... and then lose their money to restore their health.
that by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present not the future .
that they live as if they will never die , and die as though they had never lived.
God's hand took mine and we were silent for awhile.
and then i asked: as a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children learn?
to learn they can not make anyone love them, all they can do is let themselves to others.
to learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.
to learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.
to learn that a rich person is not one who needs the least.
to learn that there are people who love them dearly , but simply do not yet know how to express or show their feeling.
to learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.
to learn that is not enough that they forgive one another , but they most also forgive themselves.
thank you for your time , i said humbly.
is there anything else you'd like your children to know?
God smiled and said : just know that i am here ... always.
So you would like to interview me? God asked.
if you have time, i said .
God smiled.
my time is eternity .... what questions do you have in mind for me?
what surprises you must about human kind?
God answered...
that they get bored with childhood, they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.
that they lose their health to make money ... and then lose their money to restore their health.
that by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither the present not the future .
that they live as if they will never die , and die as though they had never lived.
God's hand took mine and we were silent for awhile.
and then i asked: as a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children learn?
to learn they can not make anyone love them, all they can do is let themselves to others.
to learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.
to learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love, and it can take many years to heal them.
to learn that a rich person is not one who needs the least.
to learn that there are people who love them dearly , but simply do not yet know how to express or show their feeling.
to learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.
to learn that is not enough that they forgive one another , but they most also forgive themselves.
thank you for your time , i said humbly.
is there anything else you'd like your children to know?
God smiled and said : just know that i am here ... always.
She met God at a dance
She is glorious
transcending the tide of earthbound rhythm.
And her face- the canvass of laughter and tears
And time turns resplendent like a waltz
and she always moves with grace
reminding us of the power of God to change lives eternally.
Because that is what life is-
an amazing dance
even though the dance leads into dark valleys and lonely places
it remains a dance
and God has beckoned her
He placed her hand in His.
the glorious dance that began one fair and gallant dawn
when a stone was rolled away and Mary,
a grieving mother turned sorrow into dancing
her heart danced with unspeakable joy
and the music began
and the dance of eternal life began
and so the dance continues
a dance that reminds us of a soon coming feast when a father welcomes his children
a home with many rooms and new wine
transcending the tide of earthbound rhythm.
And her face- the canvass of laughter and tears
And time turns resplendent like a waltz
and she always moves with grace
reminding us of the power of God to change lives eternally.
Because that is what life is-
an amazing dance
even though the dance leads into dark valleys and lonely places
it remains a dance
and God has beckoned her
He placed her hand in His.
the glorious dance that began one fair and gallant dawn
when a stone was rolled away and Mary,
a grieving mother turned sorrow into dancing
her heart danced with unspeakable joy
and the music began
and the dance of eternal life began
and so the dance continues
a dance that reminds us of a soon coming feast when a father welcomes his children
a home with many rooms and new wine
St. Julian of Cuenca, Spain
Saint Julian of Cuenca was the second bishop of Cuenca, Spain, and was also a professor, hermit, priest, and preacher.
Born in Burgos, he studied at the cathedral school there and then studied at the university at Palencia, earning his doctorate there. He was appointed professor of philosophy and theology there in 1153.
During his time in Palencia, Julian worked as a basket-maker and maker of other trade goods in order to earn extra money for the poor of the city, as well to support himself.
In 1163, at the age of 35, he left Palencia to live a life of solitude in a modest house outside of Burgos, located on the banks of the Arlanzón. He was ordained (in 1166) and received minor orders, and together with a young companion, Lesmes, lived a life of mortification and contemplation.
Subsequently, he and Lesmes took to the road as itinerant preachers, reaching Córdoba and Toledo (in 1191). The archbishop of Toledo, Martín II López de Pisuerga, appointed Julian as archdeacon at Toledo. Along with his administrative duties, Julian continued preaching as well as making baskets in order to raise money for the poor. Julian served for 5 years as archdeacon at Toledo.
Juan Yáñez, the first bishop of Cuenca, died on December 14, 1195; Julian was chosen by Alfonso VIII of Castile to succeed Yáñez in June 1196. The diocese of Cuenca had been established in 1183 after the city of Cuenca had been conquered from the Moors by Alfonso VIII on September 21, 1177.
As bishop, Julian continued his preaching, reformed the practices of the local clergy, and did charity work for the Christians, Jews, and Muslims of his city. On a yearly basis, he would retire to the country to live a life of solitude and contemplation, and continued his habit of making baskets.
A legend associated with Julian is that Jesus Christ appeared to him in the guise of a beggar in order to thank him.
Julian died on January 28, 1208.
Born in Burgos, he studied at the cathedral school there and then studied at the university at Palencia, earning his doctorate there. He was appointed professor of philosophy and theology there in 1153.
During his time in Palencia, Julian worked as a basket-maker and maker of other trade goods in order to earn extra money for the poor of the city, as well to support himself.
In 1163, at the age of 35, he left Palencia to live a life of solitude in a modest house outside of Burgos, located on the banks of the Arlanzón. He was ordained (in 1166) and received minor orders, and together with a young companion, Lesmes, lived a life of mortification and contemplation.
Subsequently, he and Lesmes took to the road as itinerant preachers, reaching Córdoba and Toledo (in 1191). The archbishop of Toledo, Martín II López de Pisuerga, appointed Julian as archdeacon at Toledo. Along with his administrative duties, Julian continued preaching as well as making baskets in order to raise money for the poor. Julian served for 5 years as archdeacon at Toledo.
Juan Yáñez, the first bishop of Cuenca, died on December 14, 1195; Julian was chosen by Alfonso VIII of Castile to succeed Yáñez in June 1196. The diocese of Cuenca had been established in 1183 after the city of Cuenca had been conquered from the Moors by Alfonso VIII on September 21, 1177.
As bishop, Julian continued his preaching, reformed the practices of the local clergy, and did charity work for the Christians, Jews, and Muslims of his city. On a yearly basis, he would retire to the country to live a life of solitude and contemplation, and continued his habit of making baskets.
A legend associated with Julian is that Jesus Christ appeared to him in the guise of a beggar in order to thank him.
Julian died on January 28, 1208.
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