finding the meeting place

some words of wisdom from frederick buechner on this fine monday morning. hoping that you find sincere joy in your work, in all you do, and with the people you find yourself surrounded by - from day to day.

life is fragile, and if there is any way that we can strive to live our deep gladness every minute of every day, i say we do it. and if we can't, let's at least try. 

Amen? 
AMEN.

The Place God Calls You To

Frederick Buechner

There are all kinds of different voices calling you to do all different kinds of work, and the problem is to find out which is the voice of God, rather than that of society, say, or the super-ego, or self-interest. By and large a good rule for finding out is the following: the kind of work God usually calls you to is the kind of work (a) that you most need to do, and (b) that the world most needs to have done.

If you really get a kick out of your work, you've presumably met requirement (a), but if your work is writing deodorant commercials, the chances are you've missed requirement (b). On the other hand, if your work is being a doctor in a leper colony, you've probably met requirement (b), but if most of the time you're bored and depressed by your work, the chances are that you've not only bypassed (a), but probably aren't helping your patients much either.

Neither the hair shirt nor the soft berth will do.

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and 
the world's deep hunger meet.

time to move.

We Can Not Merely Pray

- Rabbi Jack Riemer

We cannot merely pray to you O God to end war;

For the World is made in such a way

That we must find our own path of peace

Within ourselves and with our neighbors.

We cannot merely pray to you O God to root out Prejudice:

for we already have eyes

With which to see the good in all people

If we would only use them rightly.

We cannot merely pray to you O God to end starvation:

For we already have the resources

With which to feed the entire World

If we would only use them wisely.

We cannot merely pray to you O God to end despair:

For we already have the power To clear away slums and to give hope

If we would only use our power justly.

We cannot merely pray to you O God to end disease:

For we already have great minds

With which to search out cures and healings

If we would only use them constructively.

Therefore we pray instead

For strength, determination, and will power,

To do instead of merely to pray

To become instead of merely to wish:

So that our World may be safe,

And so that our lives may be blessed.

give your best anyway.

Hi All! I haven't had a chance to update my blog in quite some time because I got super busy upon arrival back to Radnor after 3 weeks at home in Laguna and then San Francisco over the winter break. And then, I had some very important visitors come to town!

BUT - SOON, I shall start updating again!

In the meantime, lots has been going on (good/bad/difficult/easy/happy things/not-so-happy things)...but, in light of that, thought I would post this gem that someone reminded me of tonight:

"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.

Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.

Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten.

Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.

Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.

It was never between you and them anyway."

- Mother Teresa