The Center

"Oh Christ, be the center of my life..."

This too shall pass.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.





God is the reason my life means anything at all. I make my prayer the lyrics from Worlds Apart by Jars of Clay: "Can I be the one to sacrifice
Or grip the spear and watch the blood and water flow

To love you - take my world apart
To need you - I am on my knees
To love you - take my world apart
To need you - broken on my knees

All said and done I stand alone
Amongst remains of a life I should not own
It takes all I am to believe
In the mercy that covers me

Did you really have to die for me?
All I am for all you are
Because what I need and what I believe are worlds apart"
Let a passion that I can't contain envelop all that I am.

For the last day or so I have been exposed to a bit of junk. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I do.

I Choose Love...

No occasion, no situation justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I Choose Joy...

I will invite God into my heart regardless of circumstance. I won't be cynical...I will see people as God created them, beautiful. I will see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I Choose Peace...

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I Choose patience...

I will thank God for a moment to pray.

I Choose Kindness...

I will be kind to the unkind, for that is how God treated me.

I Choose Goodness...

I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.

I Choose Faithfulness...

Today I will keep my promises.

I Choose Gentleness...

I once read this in book given to me by my Grandmother:
"Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it be only of myself."

And last but not least, I Choose Self-Control...

I will be influenced by God, taught by Him, and only impassioned by my faith. I choose self-control.

To these things I commit myself. I will give thanks to God. And if I fail, I will seek his grace.