Whenever I am walking and pass rosemary or lavender, I reach out my hand to touch the fragrant leaves and blossoms so that I can smell them on my hands. Isn’t it wonderful the way that fragrances can linger with us? What fragrance do we want to leave with others?
The fragrance always remains in the hand that gives the rose.”
The following quote was posted on “Word for the Day” from Gratefulness.org just last week.
One of life’s most fulfilling momemts occurs in the split-second when the familiar is suddenly transformed into the dazzling aura of the profoundly new. ”
-Edward B. Lindaman Thinking in the Future Tense
I hope I never tire of being reminded at the closeness of God’s presence to us. And I hope that some good day, I will not need to be reminded, but find that presence in all its infinite manifestations. Today’s reminder comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting – a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.
Friday’s Responsorial Psalm from Psalm 19 reminds us:
The heavens declare the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims God’s handiwork.
Day pours out the word to day,
and night to night imparts knowledge.
And when we lift our eyes, we see nature, in all its glory, reminding us
On those days when we are face to face with our own failures – when we feel weak and defeated – we can take heart and reflect on these words from Friday’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 15:
“By the grace of God I am what I am; God’s grace to me has not been ineffective.”
These are the words of a man, the apostle Paul, who saw his failing and who had to reconcile with his intolerant and murderous past. These are the words of a man who saw God working through his weaknesses. So we, like him, need to be patient; it is not always clear to us what God is about.
May each of us also be able to look beyond our failures and near-misses, and see God at work.
Tuesday’s Responsorial Psalm is from Psalm 119 – a Prayer for Guidance.
OPreach 