May those that love us, love us.
And those that don’t love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he doesn’t turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we’ll know them by their limping.
Source unknown.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Grandmother Kit McCaskey and the Little Flower
In Patrick McCaskey's book, Sports and Faith: Stories of the Devoted and the Devout, he relays a few brief stories that his father passed down about his grandmother Kit. The McCaskeys were Scots going way back, but had mixed in with Irish, which was good thing in the opinion of Patrick's father Edward. According to the book, Kit was Irish through and through. Kit alone ran a household of many children and three adult men. Only God knows the number of others Kit reached out to help from her household in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, but she was known for her kindness.
Kit had a deep faith and her answer to any problems was "that was a sign." Like many of the Irish, Kit believed that God's hand was an active one in our lives. According to the author, when Ed and Tom McCaskey came home from Caddying one day, their father told them that their mother was in the hospital. Kit had miscarried twins. Edward ran off to see his mother at St. Joseph's hospital. When he got to his mother's bedside, she said, "I'm all right Edward, the Little Flower sent me a shower of roses."
Saint Therese, the Little Flower, had lived a short life. Famous for her childlike trust in God, she didn't see death as the end of her work for God. She looked forward to working after death in God's name and she had said, "After my death, I will let forth a shower of roses, I will spend my heaven doing good upon the earth." Saint Therese's "Little Way" was her belief that God is everywhere--in every situation and every person--and in the ordinary, simple details in life.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Rutter Requiem and Ghosts Past
When I was in grade school at Cajetan School on the Southwest side of Chicago, a very wonderful thing happened. A choir master from Ireland came to live in our parish and created a boys choir to sing sacred music. They often sang at Mass. Although I was not a participant in the choir as my voice was not quite right for it, it was special to have our own boys choir in the parish and they sung beautifully. My cousin Pat sang in the choir and although I under-appreciated the Mass at the time, the choir helped develop my appreciation of all things Catholic.
I am not sure if anyone other an Irishman could have convinced the young boys of the parish that to sing in the choir was a privilege. As I recall, there were some who didn't make the cut. But we did have three classrooms of fifth grade students with about 55 kids to a class--ditto for sixth grade. Thus the school had perhaps 150 or so boys who were the right age for a boys choir. At least that's how I remember it.
When I was in College, my appreciation of music increased, but still I was not a great singer. However, I did join the Concert Chorale at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. I can remember singing the Mozart Requiem--perhaps one of the most beautiful sacred works of all time. When we sang the Requiem for an actual Mass, it was something special.
Of my children, my second youngest is a devoted singer. There is nothing that child enjoys more than to sing and she loves to do it whether she is in front of people or by herself in her bedroom. And she loves the straight-up stuff -- the Celtic Women kind of stuff. This year is her first year in High School and she is lucky to be at a school where they have many choirs and a choir master who is very ambitious. His winter concert was an eclectic mix of fascinatingly brilliant stuff--his program wove western sacred and commercial Christmas music in with Asian and African songs.
Although, the school my daughter attends is a public school, they are working on John Rutter's Requiem for the spring. Performing sacred music at a public school is no surprise to music majors and musicians who understand that sacred music is part and parcel of choral music and musicians of all faiths sing, play and even compose sacred music regardless of their creed. A choir that does not tackle sacred music is like an orchestra that stays away from symphonies. I remember listening with great fondness to Leonard Bernstein's Mass.
Rutter is English and his Requiem was written in honor of his father. In part it follows the Catholic Mass, in part it goes it own way at times. Rutter explains his approach and reasoning very nicely on YouTube.
Rutter's Requiem is an exciting piece of music--and extremely popular. Rutter says it was performed over 500 times in the United States in the first six months of publication (1985). I think it deserves it. I am not a musician or music scholar--I am just an average fan who has a daughter who loves to sing. This piece knocks my socks off. Give it a listen if you haven't discovered it. It's reassuring when someone like Rutter comes along and writes something so beautiful, because it helps us understand that the Lord is still out there for us inspiring people like Rutter, helping us fight the good fight. When our kids can be involved in the work, it's an added bonus.
Image is All Soul's Chapel of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery as found at http://rochesterianseminarian.blogspot.com
For what I am doing with myself these days, see Sporting Chance Press.
I am not sure if anyone other an Irishman could have convinced the young boys of the parish that to sing in the choir was a privilege. As I recall, there were some who didn't make the cut. But we did have three classrooms of fifth grade students with about 55 kids to a class--ditto for sixth grade. Thus the school had perhaps 150 or so boys who were the right age for a boys choir. At least that's how I remember it.
When I was in College, my appreciation of music increased, but still I was not a great singer. However, I did join the Concert Chorale at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. I can remember singing the Mozart Requiem--perhaps one of the most beautiful sacred works of all time. When we sang the Requiem for an actual Mass, it was something special.
Of my children, my second youngest is a devoted singer. There is nothing that child enjoys more than to sing and she loves to do it whether she is in front of people or by herself in her bedroom. And she loves the straight-up stuff -- the Celtic Women kind of stuff. This year is her first year in High School and she is lucky to be at a school where they have many choirs and a choir master who is very ambitious. His winter concert was an eclectic mix of fascinatingly brilliant stuff--his program wove western sacred and commercial Christmas music in with Asian and African songs.
Although, the school my daughter attends is a public school, they are working on John Rutter's Requiem for the spring. Performing sacred music at a public school is no surprise to music majors and musicians who understand that sacred music is part and parcel of choral music and musicians of all faiths sing, play and even compose sacred music regardless of their creed. A choir that does not tackle sacred music is like an orchestra that stays away from symphonies. I remember listening with great fondness to Leonard Bernstein's Mass.
Rutter is English and his Requiem was written in honor of his father. In part it follows the Catholic Mass, in part it goes it own way at times. Rutter explains his approach and reasoning very nicely on YouTube.
Rutter's Requiem is an exciting piece of music--and extremely popular. Rutter says it was performed over 500 times in the United States in the first six months of publication (1985). I think it deserves it. I am not a musician or music scholar--I am just an average fan who has a daughter who loves to sing. This piece knocks my socks off. Give it a listen if you haven't discovered it. It's reassuring when someone like Rutter comes along and writes something so beautiful, because it helps us understand that the Lord is still out there for us inspiring people like Rutter, helping us fight the good fight. When our kids can be involved in the work, it's an added bonus.
Image is All Soul's Chapel of Holy Sepulchre Cemetery as found at http://rochesterianseminarian.blogspot.com
For what I am doing with myself these days, see Sporting Chance Press.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
More On "Stickiness" and Catholic Culture
The Catholic faith has a "stickiness" to it when people are exposed to many things that are part of our Catholic culture. Just as the parables and the images that are presented in the Bible help us to absorb our faith, so to do many other traditional Catholic practices help weld our faith to us. Some of the those practices might be central to the faith like the sacraments; others may be of minor importance in and of themselves, but they all work to establish and strengthen our faith. The Holy Spirit is at the center of it all. But the adult community must help the young increase their faith experiences.
When kids are only exposed periodically to the Catholic faith they may have little cultural or traditional experience with it. They are overwhelmed with secular cultural images and experiences, but have almost no Catholic cultural experiences. Not surprisingly, they are not growing up in the faith at all.
The ethnic traditions of faith for many Americans have been dissipating as we become more homogeneous not only in our ethnicity, but also in our Christianity. Blended traditions can often cherry pick a few tenants of faith and culture, essentially making for a weak stew that offers little nourishment.
Some parishes focus on instilling the faith in our young and have built programs to help cement the faith. We need that cultural stickiness to help develop a lasting faith. We need a culture of faith.
Historically, this is not the first time in the United States that the Catholic Church was challenged to renew the faith in its people. In the post Civil War Era, industrialization was leading to a more secure although austere life for Americans of all faiths. Men suddenly found themselves in completely different lifestyles than their fathers who had been adventurous immigrants and pioneers. The struggle to survive independently by one’s own wits and strength under God had been replaced by a life greatly influenced by secular business and industry. Men began to join fraternal organizations to foster a sense of belonging. Often, these societies had some type of chivalrous foundation, but they also had secret initiation rites and rituals, which gave them the feel of religious organizations. Many were concerned that these secular organizations could serve in some way as a replacement for faith organizations.
Father Michael McGivney was a young Irish American priest who lived in the second half of the 19th Century and created the Knights of Columbus. He was born in Waterbury Connecticut of Irish immigrant parents and he lived from 1852 to 1890. Like many priests of his day, he worked tirelessly for his flock and died at a young age. More than anything else, McGivney was a parish priest who saw problems and set out with endless enthusiasm to do something about them.
The families that McGivney served faced many problems. Alcoholism was rife and the churches of the day were instrumental in setting up Total Abstinence societies(TAs) that encouraged an alcohol-free lifestyle. These clubs also served to help create a place for young people to come together socially. Plays were produced and performed offering the young members an outlet for expression. In response to the horrific problem of immigrant families with fathers working themselves to death, McGivney began applying what he already knew about organizing and planning to create a new Catholic fraternal organization that would offer a substantial benefit to its members who became ill or died. It would take a few years, working through some resistance and inertia, but in time, Father McGivney established the Knights of Columbus with a group of laymen friends.
Today the Knights organization remains the foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society helping families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs. However, in most parishes today, the Knights are better known as a service organization providing needed support and services to the church. The Knights of Columbus has over 13,000 Councils and 1.7 million members.
Today, youth ministry programs at parishes are working to provide that cultural "stickiness" that helps draw and retain youth to the faith through many activities like youth Masses, concerts, clubs, musicals and missions. Education is also an important component, but there is much work that needs to be done.
When kids are only exposed periodically to the Catholic faith they may have little cultural or traditional experience with it. They are overwhelmed with secular cultural images and experiences, but have almost no Catholic cultural experiences. Not surprisingly, they are not growing up in the faith at all.
The ethnic traditions of faith for many Americans have been dissipating as we become more homogeneous not only in our ethnicity, but also in our Christianity. Blended traditions can often cherry pick a few tenants of faith and culture, essentially making for a weak stew that offers little nourishment.
Some parishes focus on instilling the faith in our young and have built programs to help cement the faith. We need that cultural stickiness to help develop a lasting faith. We need a culture of faith.
Historically, this is not the first time in the United States that the Catholic Church was challenged to renew the faith in its people. In the post Civil War Era, industrialization was leading to a more secure although austere life for Americans of all faiths. Men suddenly found themselves in completely different lifestyles than their fathers who had been adventurous immigrants and pioneers. The struggle to survive independently by one’s own wits and strength under God had been replaced by a life greatly influenced by secular business and industry. Men began to join fraternal organizations to foster a sense of belonging. Often, these societies had some type of chivalrous foundation, but they also had secret initiation rites and rituals, which gave them the feel of religious organizations. Many were concerned that these secular organizations could serve in some way as a replacement for faith organizations.
Father Michael McGivney was a young Irish American priest who lived in the second half of the 19th Century and created the Knights of Columbus. He was born in Waterbury Connecticut of Irish immigrant parents and he lived from 1852 to 1890. Like many priests of his day, he worked tirelessly for his flock and died at a young age. More than anything else, McGivney was a parish priest who saw problems and set out with endless enthusiasm to do something about them.
The families that McGivney served faced many problems. Alcoholism was rife and the churches of the day were instrumental in setting up Total Abstinence societies(TAs) that encouraged an alcohol-free lifestyle. These clubs also served to help create a place for young people to come together socially. Plays were produced and performed offering the young members an outlet for expression. In response to the horrific problem of immigrant families with fathers working themselves to death, McGivney began applying what he already knew about organizing and planning to create a new Catholic fraternal organization that would offer a substantial benefit to its members who became ill or died. It would take a few years, working through some resistance and inertia, but in time, Father McGivney established the Knights of Columbus with a group of laymen friends.
Today the Knights organization remains the foremost Catholic fraternal benefit society helping families obtain economic security and stability through its life insurance, annuity and long-term care programs. However, in most parishes today, the Knights are better known as a service organization providing needed support and services to the church. The Knights of Columbus has over 13,000 Councils and 1.7 million members.
Today, youth ministry programs at parishes are working to provide that cultural "stickiness" that helps draw and retain youth to the faith through many activities like youth Masses, concerts, clubs, musicals and missions. Education is also an important component, but there is much work that needs to be done.
Image of Father Michael McGivney from St. Mary's Spiritual Center, Baltimore, MD
Monday, December 20, 2010
Catholic Culture Provides "Stickiness"
Stickiness is a term used to describe how a particular action, communication or experience tends to be remembered -- to stay with someone. It is heavily used term today in marketing circles, but it is also useful for religious discussions as well.
Religion in its most stark and unencumbered state can be difficult for children to absorb and none to easy for adults either. Jesus overcame the "stickiness" problem by using beautiful imagery and parables to evangelize those around him. And his teachings so beautifully recounted in the Bible have helped us absorb and remember the principles of our faith. The Old Testament is also rich in images, stories and poetry.
Catholic traditions build off our Judea-Christian heritage and are enriched by cultural forces from many ethnic groups. The enormous Irish Catholic immigration that came about as a result of the mid-19th Century Famine must have had a huge impact on U.S. Catholics. But establishing the Catholic faith in the United States wasn't easy and it didn't happen over night. The original waves Irish famine immigrants were poorly educated in their own religion and it took a huge influx of Irish priest to establish schools and parishes to educate the masses. An Irish Catholic renewal in Ireland itself in the late 19th century helped insure that later Irish immigrants were better schooled in their faith.
In the same era, other immigrant groups were being educated as well and it was not unusual for Europeans to help sponsor Catholic institutions in the United States. Funds from Germany and other places came into the United States to build schools and churches to keep the Catholic faith alive in our "wilderness."
Religious persecution in Europe took many forms and both Protestants and Catholics took part in them. In the United States, Catholics were more likely to be targets of intolerance. Thus, Catholic religious leaders were aggressive about setting up Catholic Schools. It occurred to many that Catholic identity could easily be lost in a country that was predominantly Protestant. The Catholic school system developed and grew. In no small part, the priests and nuns who operated the Catholic schools saw to it that children were educated in the faith.
Bible stories certainly would play a big part in that education, but so would all the sacraments, the ceremonies, the rituals, and other rich aspects of the faith practice. A Catholic call to action would be important. The practice of the Catholic faith would be a large part of everyday life. There were morning, noon, evening and bed time prayers. There was abstinence from meat on Friday and fasting for mass each week. Every Sunday was a day for church and during Lent and Advent many would attend each day. There was the Family Rosary, nightime Novenas, First Fridays, and holy days. Guardian Angels stood at the ready each day. Saints were asked to intercede on all manner of troubles and affairs. The Blessed Mother was called on regularly.
In houses there were crucifixes, religious paintings and First Communion photographs. Each spring, a May altar was set up in a prominent place in the house. Catholics proudly displayed their faith to everyone.
The Faith was also directed externally to helping others--the Corporal Works and the Spiritual Works of Mercy are examples of how Catholics were taught to take action for others.
Religion in its most stark and unencumbered state can be difficult for children to absorb and none to easy for adults either. Jesus overcame the "stickiness" problem by using beautiful imagery and parables to evangelize those around him. And his teachings so beautifully recounted in the Bible have helped us absorb and remember the principles of our faith. The Old Testament is also rich in images, stories and poetry.
Catholic traditions build off our Judea-Christian heritage and are enriched by cultural forces from many ethnic groups. The enormous Irish Catholic immigration that came about as a result of the mid-19th Century Famine must have had a huge impact on U.S. Catholics. But establishing the Catholic faith in the United States wasn't easy and it didn't happen over night. The original waves Irish famine immigrants were poorly educated in their own religion and it took a huge influx of Irish priest to establish schools and parishes to educate the masses. An Irish Catholic renewal in Ireland itself in the late 19th century helped insure that later Irish immigrants were better schooled in their faith.
In the same era, other immigrant groups were being educated as well and it was not unusual for Europeans to help sponsor Catholic institutions in the United States. Funds from Germany and other places came into the United States to build schools and churches to keep the Catholic faith alive in our "wilderness."
Religious persecution in Europe took many forms and both Protestants and Catholics took part in them. In the United States, Catholics were more likely to be targets of intolerance. Thus, Catholic religious leaders were aggressive about setting up Catholic Schools. It occurred to many that Catholic identity could easily be lost in a country that was predominantly Protestant. The Catholic school system developed and grew. In no small part, the priests and nuns who operated the Catholic schools saw to it that children were educated in the faith.
Bible stories certainly would play a big part in that education, but so would all the sacraments, the ceremonies, the rituals, and other rich aspects of the faith practice. A Catholic call to action would be important. The practice of the Catholic faith would be a large part of everyday life. There were morning, noon, evening and bed time prayers. There was abstinence from meat on Friday and fasting for mass each week. Every Sunday was a day for church and during Lent and Advent many would attend each day. There was the Family Rosary, nightime Novenas, First Fridays, and holy days. Guardian Angels stood at the ready each day. Saints were asked to intercede on all manner of troubles and affairs. The Blessed Mother was called on regularly.
In houses there were crucifixes, religious paintings and First Communion photographs. Each spring, a May altar was set up in a prominent place in the house. Catholics proudly displayed their faith to everyone.
The Faith was also directed externally to helping others--the Corporal Works and the Spiritual Works of Mercy are examples of how Catholics were taught to take action for others.
All these things helped provide a "stickiness" in Faith.
Stained glass window from Immaculate Conception Church,Cottonwood, Arizona.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Frightening News on the Irish Front
I was in church last Sunday and I am fascinated by the diversity of our priests these days. My schedule requires that on certain weekends I attend different churches so I get to "know" several priests during the course of a year.
In the last decade or so, we've had priests for India, the Philippines, Poland and Africa.
At one church there is a Priest from Kenya who is a large athletic man who has an African-British accent. He exudes great confidence and is deliberate in his sermons and all his actions in the mass. You can't help but feel the strength of his faith.
When we pulled up at church this week, the Priest was pulling up with his car. He stepped out with a small person whom I mistook for young boy. It turned out the person was actually a very small man who was an older Priest from Nigeria.
The two African Priests said the mass. At the end of the mass, the Priest from Nigeria stood up to say a few words. First off, he said he would like to thank Americans for their faith that was in many ways a guiding light for the rest of the world. He said it was our faith and support with the faith and support of European Catholics that led to the missionary work in Africa which in turn led to his and other African priests vocations. He was basically saying that by supporting the mission work in Africa decades ago we were now seeing and experiencing the benefit of that work by having priests like him serve parishes in the US. I was touched by this because one of my Uncles was a school master from Scotland who had actually gone to Africa with his wife to run a Catholic school. I couldn't take any personal credit for this of course, but it made the Priest message seem more relevant. Perhaps all those small coins we used to put in those little milk carton mission banks had done some good.
The Priest then told us that unfortunately, the Catholic faith in Europe was almost dead. Traveling through Europe, he had seen empty churches and almost a total lack of any expression of the Catholic faith. He went on to say that even in Ireland, mass participation was on the decline and the church had seemed to have lost its way offering shorter masses to try to hold onto to those who considered mass a burden on their time.
I had talked to an Irish publisher a year or so ago when Ireland was in the throes of their examination of the church's running of the various social services. The Publisher suggested that the people had enough of the Catholic church and its priests.
I am hoping against hope that these reports are exaggerated or at least short lived. I think it is wonderful that we have an increase in priests from Africa, India and the Philippines. This gives us new strength and vigor. These priests add a new dimension to the faith and Lord knows we need it. It also suggests that the church is growing in the places from which these priests come to us. It is all good as they say.
But as an Irish American, you can't help but feel bad when you consider that the church in Ireland might be on the decline. For Irish Americans, Ireland holds a special spirituality for us. The Irish religious came to this country at a time when the Catholic church was in a primitive vulnerable state under siege from many quarters. Their work was instrumental and inspiring. Not only did they keep the faith alive here, they also improved the religious training and education of the poor Irish--many of whom had come over during the famine.
It was the second and third generation Irish American priests who have established such wonderful institutions like the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Hospitals, Universities, etc. We need that continuing flood of new blood from Ireland. We need the example of Irish piety and faith. We need all the help we can get! We have our own faith crisis going on right here.
The world keeps changing and we might not like everything that the Vatican does. We might feel disgraced and angered by the Priests who have betrayed their faith and abused children. We might believe the church leaders mishandled much of the scandal. We might disagree with things that are being said and done by some of the human beings who are our church leaders. But we can't help but believe that the body and blood of Jesus Christ that is present at the altar for us at each mass is a gift that is present in the Catholic Church. Most of our priests are wonderful spiritual people who have kept the faith, who have fought the good fight. Certainly, the Irish can see this, can they not? I pray so.
In the last decade or so, we've had priests for India, the Philippines, Poland and Africa.
At one church there is a Priest from Kenya who is a large athletic man who has an African-British accent. He exudes great confidence and is deliberate in his sermons and all his actions in the mass. You can't help but feel the strength of his faith.
When we pulled up at church this week, the Priest was pulling up with his car. He stepped out with a small person whom I mistook for young boy. It turned out the person was actually a very small man who was an older Priest from Nigeria.
The two African Priests said the mass. At the end of the mass, the Priest from Nigeria stood up to say a few words. First off, he said he would like to thank Americans for their faith that was in many ways a guiding light for the rest of the world. He said it was our faith and support with the faith and support of European Catholics that led to the missionary work in Africa which in turn led to his and other African priests vocations. He was basically saying that by supporting the mission work in Africa decades ago we were now seeing and experiencing the benefit of that work by having priests like him serve parishes in the US. I was touched by this because one of my Uncles was a school master from Scotland who had actually gone to Africa with his wife to run a Catholic school. I couldn't take any personal credit for this of course, but it made the Priest message seem more relevant. Perhaps all those small coins we used to put in those little milk carton mission banks had done some good.
The Priest then told us that unfortunately, the Catholic faith in Europe was almost dead. Traveling through Europe, he had seen empty churches and almost a total lack of any expression of the Catholic faith. He went on to say that even in Ireland, mass participation was on the decline and the church had seemed to have lost its way offering shorter masses to try to hold onto to those who considered mass a burden on their time.
I had talked to an Irish publisher a year or so ago when Ireland was in the throes of their examination of the church's running of the various social services. The Publisher suggested that the people had enough of the Catholic church and its priests.
I am hoping against hope that these reports are exaggerated or at least short lived. I think it is wonderful that we have an increase in priests from Africa, India and the Philippines. This gives us new strength and vigor. These priests add a new dimension to the faith and Lord knows we need it. It also suggests that the church is growing in the places from which these priests come to us. It is all good as they say.
But as an Irish American, you can't help but feel bad when you consider that the church in Ireland might be on the decline. For Irish Americans, Ireland holds a special spirituality for us. The Irish religious came to this country at a time when the Catholic church was in a primitive vulnerable state under siege from many quarters. Their work was instrumental and inspiring. Not only did they keep the faith alive here, they also improved the religious training and education of the poor Irish--many of whom had come over during the famine.
It was the second and third generation Irish American priests who have established such wonderful institutions like the Knights of Columbus, Catholic Hospitals, Universities, etc. We need that continuing flood of new blood from Ireland. We need the example of Irish piety and faith. We need all the help we can get! We have our own faith crisis going on right here.
The world keeps changing and we might not like everything that the Vatican does. We might feel disgraced and angered by the Priests who have betrayed their faith and abused children. We might believe the church leaders mishandled much of the scandal. We might disagree with things that are being said and done by some of the human beings who are our church leaders. But we can't help but believe that the body and blood of Jesus Christ that is present at the altar for us at each mass is a gift that is present in the Catholic Church. Most of our priests are wonderful spiritual people who have kept the faith, who have fought the good fight. Certainly, the Irish can see this, can they not? I pray so.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Grandfather and the Start of the Day
This photo is one of my grandfather at the start of his day a long time ago before trucks. He started his own business and delivered ice, vegetables and eventually furniture. Later on, he worked for the union. He lived through World War I, Prohibition, the Great Depression, and World War II. He died in the age of Interstates and airplanes.
I know my grandfather knew desperate times and I am sorry that I never got a chance to meet him because he died a few years before my birth. But I know my grandfather and grandmother were religious people and no doubt were raised on stories of Saint Patrick.
I like the desperation in Saint Patrick's prayer and have posted it on this blog before. I have become a greater admirer of Saint Patrick as I grow older. See my previous posting on him for a bit of his prayer and my thoughts about him.
In addition to Saint Patrick's prayer, I thought of a short saying that I found inspiring. If you are looking for a way to center yourself at the beginning of the day, the quote below is helpful-- it is a prayer/saying from an anonymous source that makes a lot of sense:
This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good, and not evil; success, and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it.
My thanks to Paul H. for helping me recover this one--long ago seen pasted on his dad's mirror. I do not know the actual source for this, but Paul thought it may have an Alcoholics Anonymous connections although his dad was not a member. If anyone knows the source, please let me know and I will post it.
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