Tag Archives: virtue

Of a November Morning

Venus adorns the morning’s crescent,
a glowing diamond in this eastern sky,
while waves of clouds roll beneath
the moon’s waning,

this daily joining in,
a practiced participation,
these lonely dives beneath love’s
surface, breaking into rocks of selfishness

where gleaming bands of diamonds
speak about grace,
sparkling mercies rolling beneath
our smiles, countless gifts

adorning our waxing joy,
sparks of patience and deference
and gifts of active grace
rolling through this mysterious sky.

A Morning Resolve

I will try this day to live a simple, sincere, and serene life,
repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety,
discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking; cultivating
cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy
silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in
giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed
service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.
In particular I will try to be faithful in those habits of
prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which
I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.
And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even
with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord
God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of
the Holy Spirit.

*Reprinted from Forward Day by Day (prayers.forwardmovement.org)

Color

I am not a short thought
in the mind of God.  I am
not all light and love.

I see the red-winged black birds,
sentries above the bramble.  Do I
stand guard, do I block the light?

I do not hold together in one piece,
see how my love lay filtered out:
patience, kindness, mercy,

and the sediment:
pride, anger, judgment.
My cup is not clear,

but see the cloudy drink
break the light into color:
whose light breaks that does not shine?