On Prayer . . . . . Fr. Eugene LaVerdiere, SSS, Faith Today, 11-26-1987

     “There is a big difference between prayer which is caught or born in us and self-centered prayer. The first gives life. It is creative. It helps us to be what we are called to be. It moves us beyond ourselves and puts us in touch with other human beings, with creation and with God himself. Such prayer has wonderful restorative powers.”

This New Day . . . . . Ralph Waldo Emerson

     “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He or she is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
     Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”

I Am Only One . . . . . Helen Keller

“I am only one;
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And I will not refuse to do the
the something I can do.”

Civilizations Decline . . . . . Thomas Carlyle

     “Civilizations decline, not necessarily through some colossal criminality, but from multitudinous cases of petty betrayal and individual neglect.”

On Effective Leaders . . . . . Bits & Pieces, Vol. 21, #1

     “… Effective leaders know that they get the best efforts out of people by working with them … by helping them to do their best … by showing them how to be more productive.
     Most people want to do a good job — as long as someone appreciates their efforts and encourages them. That’s where good leaders put their greatest effort — to show people that their work is valuable and appreciated.”

Golden Rule in Action . . . . . W. Clement Stone

     “Generosity is the Golden Rule in action. It is a sign of unselfish emotional maturity manifested by a person’s sensitivity to the feelings and reactions of others. Generous persons are kindly, compassionate and experience a nobility of feeling. They have a warmhearted readiness to share time and effort in helping others in a thoughtful manner — without being asked.
     A generous person experiences many of the true riches of life which a selfish person does not enjoy.”

Morning Prayer . . . . . Mother Teresa

“I have come to You to take Your touch before I begin my day.
Let Your eyes rest upon my eyes for a while.
Let me take to my work with assurance of Your friendship.
Fill my mind to last through the desert of noise.
Let your blessed sunshine fill the peaks of my thoughts.
And give me strength for those who need me.
Amen.”

Quality Involves Patience . . . . . Anonymous

     James Garfield, who later became President of the United States, was in an earlier time President of Hiram College in Ohio. He once was approached by the father of a young student seeking admission to the college with a typical request. The father criticized the length and difficulty of the required curriculum. “Can’t you simplify the course? My son will never get through all this academic work. There should be a shorter route.”
     Garfield replied, “I believe I can arrange such a plan, but it all depends upon what you want for your son. When God wants to make an oak tree, he takes 100 years. When God wants to make a squash, he requires only two months.”

2 Parts to the Bible . . . . . “Sower’s Seeds Aplenty,” #7, p. 5

     I’m reminded of a parish bible study group where the pastor asked, “Can anyone tell me how many parts there are in the Bible?”
     Now, there was an old-timer who was very excited and enthused. He raised his hand, almost jumping out of his seat, “I know,” he blurted out, “Father, I’ve figured out the Bible — did-ja-know there are two parts to the Bible?”
     “Why sure Sam,” the pastor replied, “that’s what we are studying, that there are 2 parts to the Bible — the Old Testament and the New Testament.”
     “Yeah, I know all that, Father,” said Sam. “What I discovered is that first there’s the believing part, and second there’s the behaving part.”
     I imagine most of us probably do okay with the first part, but it’s the second part that trips us up.
     How true, “Blessed are they who hear the Word of God and act on it.”