"It is not our purpose to become each other; it is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is." ~ Hermann Hesse
It is my hope that one day...
we will SEE each other more clearly.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Hope in forgiveness.
I forgave someone once.
They had a different countenance that day. The bubbly, full-of-joy person I saw one day didn't show up that day. That day they were embarrassed, and maybe a little sad.
The last time I saw them, they were joyful and singing in church. That day they were solemn, and confessing that they had done something wrong.
But I believe that the joyful person from the first day was still in there. Today they were just covered up by the pain that sometimes comes with telling the truth.
Appearances can be deceiving.
Because maybe that joyful person in church was covering up the solemn person that sometimes does things that are wrong.
And maybe that day the solemn person was covering up the joyful one that is usually there.
I don't really know how they "usually" are. And the truth is that it doesn't really matter.
Someone once said [in reference to those of us in the Church] that we just clean up really well.
Because sometimes I am the joyful one singing to Jesus on Sunday morning. [All the while, knowing about the not-so-great choices I have made.]
And sometimes I am the solemn one knowing that I don't always make the best choices. [All the while, knowing the freedom that comes with the light.]
The difference is my bad choices usually stay in the dark. And that day, theirs was brought into the light.
And the really beautiful thing is that there is freedom in that light. Though they may not feel it right away.
Because sometimes it's like when your eyes have to take some time to adjust to the light after they've been in the dark.
Especially if it's been awhile.
But in the light there is warmth & love. And the hope here is that she remembers grace shown.
[And that I do as well.]
They had a different countenance that day. The bubbly, full-of-joy person I saw one day didn't show up that day. That day they were embarrassed, and maybe a little sad.
The last time I saw them, they were joyful and singing in church. That day they were solemn, and confessing that they had done something wrong.
But I believe that the joyful person from the first day was still in there. Today they were just covered up by the pain that sometimes comes with telling the truth.
Appearances can be deceiving.
Because maybe that joyful person in church was covering up the solemn person that sometimes does things that are wrong.
And maybe that day the solemn person was covering up the joyful one that is usually there.
I don't really know how they "usually" are. And the truth is that it doesn't really matter.
Someone once said [in reference to those of us in the Church] that we just clean up really well.
Because sometimes I am the joyful one singing to Jesus on Sunday morning. [All the while, knowing about the not-so-great choices I have made.]
And sometimes I am the solemn one knowing that I don't always make the best choices. [All the while, knowing the freedom that comes with the light.]
The difference is my bad choices usually stay in the dark. And that day, theirs was brought into the light.
And the really beautiful thing is that there is freedom in that light. Though they may not feel it right away.
Because sometimes it's like when your eyes have to take some time to adjust to the light after they've been in the dark.
Especially if it's been awhile.
But in the light there is warmth & love. And the hope here is that she remembers grace shown.
[And that I do as well.]
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Merton's hope
A friend shared this during a time when we were ready for transition & knew it was coming. We just had no idea what it would look like. I found Mr. Merton's words comforting & reassuring. Perhaps you will also.
In Thoughts in Solitude, Part Two, Chapter II consists of fifteen lines that have become known as "the Merton Prayer."
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
In Thoughts in Solitude, Part Two, Chapter II consists of fifteen lines that have become known as "the Merton Prayer."
MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
- Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude"
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