OPreach
Dominican Preaching through Word and Image
Wednesday of Hope – Holding the Memory of Light
This is the first and most important lesson every writer learns, that words are ever only a memory of the thing itself. Like catching sunlight in your cupped hands so you have it later when the dark comes on. Sometimes, the words, the memory of the light are all we have to keep us steady until the night ends.
– Brian Andreas, Story of the Day
Have Patience
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them – every day begin the task anew.
– Saint Francis de Sales
Wednesday of Hope – No One/Nothing is Hopeless
When you say a situation or a person is hopeless, you are slamming the door in the face of God.
– Charles L. Allen
These doors are displayed on the lawn in front of Pilgrim Congregational Church in Oak Park, Illinois. Last year someone broke in and painted racial graffiti and swastikas inside this church preaches that God’s love includes everyone.
This Day
Everyday, think as you wake up: Today I am fortunate to have woken up. I am alive. I have a precious human life. I am not going to waste it. I am going to use all my energies to develop myself to expand my heart out to others for the benefit of all beings.
– His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama
Wednesday of Hope – Only Hope Makes Sense
The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer. Hope only makes sense when it doesn’t make sense to be hopeful.
-Paul Hawken
All that the Sun Shines on Is Beautiful
God never made an ugly landscape. All that the sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild.
– John Muir
Wednesday of Hope – Success/Failure
Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.
– Winston Churchill
Walking a Labyrinth
Not too long ago I walked a labyrinth for the first time in my life. I had flirted with labyrinths for years, but my expectations were so high that I kept finding reasons not to walk one. I did not want to hurry. I did not want to share the labyrinth with anyone who might distract me. I did not want to be disappointed. I looked forward to walking a labyrinth so much that looking forward to it kept me from doing it for years.
Barbara Brown Taylor, An Altar in the World
Wednesday of Hope – The Need for Humor
The only thing I can recommend at this stage is a sense of humor, an ability to see things in their ridiculous and absurd dimensions, to laugh at others and at ourselves, a sense of irony regarding everything that calls out for parody in this world. In other words, I can only recommend perspective and distance.
– Václav Havel
Surrender
Surrender
The boat I travel in is called Surrender.
My two oars are instant forgiveness and gratitude—complete gratitude for the gift of life.
I am thankful for the experience of this life,
for the opportunity to dance.
I get angry, I get mad, but as soon as I remind myself to put my oars in the water,
I forgive.Balbir Matbur, Heron Dance Interview (Issue 11)
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