We ask that life be kind...

Without a doubt, my favorite version.

Prayer of St. Francis

This is a beautiful, beautiful prayer, and The Philippine Madrigal Singers' version is simply breathtaking. The silence in the music will, indeed, make you fall into prayer, and make you realize that, at the state the world is in right now, we could all help heal it by spreading some peace and love (big words right there, I know, but for some reason, I don't have qualms of using them here, now). This prayer speaks of selflessness and what beauty there is in giving.

Take some time to listen, and think. In every person's heart, there is much goodwill waiting to be shared.



Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury,pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

*video from youtube.

Faith and Prayer

So this is what it feels like to have faith; to know how it is to look for the good in the worst of situations, to find the light hiding in the darkness, to have one's way illuminated by that light.

The power of prayer is often underestimated, its very existence overlooked. But if we only try, if we only trust enough that the answer to our pleas need not be the thing itself that we ask for, then, perhaps, the number of lonely people will be less.

Cynicism is difficult to unlearn. It is harder to believe, and learning to trust that there is good in this world often proves to be a tougher task than most of us think.

But, in time, we learn. As I have learned.

That this is what faith is.

This is faith.

Have a blessed week ahead.

Thank You

In the office, today, someone I did not know well enough to call my friend gave me a huge chocolate bar.
I said "thank you," but couldn't resist asking, with a puzzled smile "why?"
She said "because you have been nice to me. Thank you so much."
I felt strangely touched, both by the gesture and the answer to my question.
I was reminded that kindness, when given without expecting to be returned, is almost always sure to come back.

Prayer

My own heart let me more have pity on; let

Me live to my sad self hereafter kind,

Charitable; not live this tormented mind

With this tormented mind tormenting yet.

I cast for comfort I can no more get

By groping round my comfortless, than blind

Eyes in their dark can day or thirst can find...

- from Gerard Manley Hopkins'
"My own heart let me more have pity on"