Only by embracing change can we mold it in a way that benefits all of us.

*********
One way to recall the mind easily in the time of prayer,
and preserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander
too far at other times. You should keep it strictly in the
Presence of God; and , being accustomed to think of Him often,
you will find it easy to keep your mind calm in the time of
prayer, or at least to recall it from its wonderings.
... Brother Lawrence (c.1605-1691), Letters

=====

There remains for us only the very narrow way, often
extremely difficult to find, of living every day as though it
were our last, and yet living in faith and responsibility as
though there were to be a great future.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer, "After Ten Years" [1943]


There are only two kinds of men: the righteous, who believe
themselves sinners; the rest, sinners who believe themselves
righteous.
... Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)


Formal prayer is a practical device, not a spiritual
necessity. It makes direct suggestions to our souls: it
reminds us of realities which we always tend to forget.
... Evelyn Underhill, Concerning the Inner Life [1926]


We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers. They see
things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long
winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others
nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring
them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely
hopethat their dreams will come true.

Woodrow T. Wilson
(1856-1924, Twenty-eighth President of the USA)



Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in
a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake
is almost unnoticed.

Buddha
(568-488 BC, Founder of Buddhism)


Quote: The Master in the art of living
makes little distinction between
his work and his play,
his labor and his leisure,
his mind and his body,
his education and his religion.
He hardly knows which is which,
He simply pursues his vision of excellence
in whatever he does,
leaving others to decide
whether he is working or playing.
To him he is always doing both.

Zen Buddhist text



"God never consults your past to determine your
future." -M. Murdock


When the explorer is ready, the guide will
appear.
Himalayan saying


*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

What lies before us and what lies behind
us are small matters compared to what lies
within us. And when we bring what is within
out into the world, miracles happen.
Henry David Thoreau


*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

It is not the answer that enlightens, but
the question.
Eugene Ionesco

*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

The real enemies of life are the 'oughts' and 'ifs.'
They pull us backwards into the unalterable past and
forward into the unpredictable future. But real life
takes place in the here and now.
Henri Nouwen

*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very
persistent one.
Albert Einstein

*!*!*!**!*!*!*!*!*!*!*

All That Is True


When a higher truth finally sinks into mind and heart,
you never again suffer the penalty for not knowing
that truth. You enjoy its radiating health permanently.

By seeing the real meaning of life in inner advancement,
we destry painful feelings of futility.

Bu refusing to limit ourselves, we expand far beyond
our fondest dreams.

By awareness of whatever may be false in us, we
permit revelation of all that is true.

Be letting love be the perfect guide, we walk lightly.

By union with our true nature, we never again suffer
from a divided self.

By realizing the limitations of thought-power, we
attain the greater power of conscious awareness.

By being receptive to positive impressions only,
we refresh ourselves minute by minute.

The kind of impressions admitted to your mind
make your life what it is.


All by Vernon Howard



Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They
do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are
talking where they should be listening. But he who can no
longer listen to his brother will soon be no longer listening
to God, either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the
presence of God, too. This is the beginning of the death of
the spiritual life, and in the end there will be nothing left
but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in
pious words... never really speaking to others.
... Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together



If we would indeed know God in growing intimacy, we must go
this way of renunciation. And if we are set upon the pursuit
of God, He will sooner or later bring us to this test.
Abraham's testing was, at the time, not known to him as such,
yet if he had taken some course other than the one he did, the
whole history off the Old Testament would have been different.
God would have found His man, no doubt, but the loss to Abraham
would have been tragic beyond the telling. So we will be
brought one by one to the testing place, and we may never know
when we are there. At that testing place there will be no
dozen possible choices for us; just one and an alternative, but
our whole future will be conditioned by the choice we make.
... A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God [1948]



You have no questions to ask of any body, no new way that
you need inquire after; no oracle that you need to consult; for
whilst you shut yourself up in patience, meekness, humility,
and resignation to God, you are in the very arms of Christ,
your heart is His dwelling-place, and He lives and works in you
as certainly as He lived in and governed that body and soul
which He took from the Virgin Mary.
... William Law (1686-1761), The Spirit of Love



Don't fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. The
saddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: could have,
might have, and should have.

Louis E. Boone
(American Author)