Love

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Begin with gratitude

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us—and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude, therefore, takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.”

Quote: Thomas Merton

Contemplative Monk – Facebook

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A New Year…

Do everything as far as you can
for love and you will see what you are capable of!
One can make more progress this way in a year,
than in ten by the way of fear.

 

 

St. Mary Euphrasia

from Gratefulness.org

 

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This Long and Quiet Night

Near a window, I watch the shortest day slowly surrender its light to this winter solstice. In the settling darkness there is an air of calm, of quiet. I welcome the hushed darkness of this evening. In the quiet I listen for an invitation to bring the ‘stretches of life’ together. To gather the scattered pieces of my life into one place.

This night does not call for judgment. Comforted by the warmth of home and a candle’s glow, this longest winter night calls for compassion, for acceptance.

Before me is all that’s been accomplished and all left undone. In this quiet darkness, there is time to let go, time to rest from the hard work of balancing life’s scattered pieces.

Dusk is now long gone. Looking to the sky the stars fill the darkness with points of light. There in the sky is the promise of light’s return.

I invite you to pause on this night. To welcome these dark hours and honor your work. To feel gratitude for all you have accomplished. To rest, knowing that light will soon return.

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Gentle discipline

When we persevere with the help of a gentle discipline,
we slowly come to hear the still, small voice
and to feel the delicate breeze,
and so to come to know the presence of Love.

 And Advent begins…

Quote: Henri Nouwen
Photo: JR Korpa