Desiderata

(Latin: "desired things", plural of desideratum)

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful.
Strive to be happy.

1927 prose poem by American writer Max Ehrmann (1872–1945)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiderata

God has Promised

God has not promised Skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through.
God has not promised Sun without rain,

Joy without sorrow, Peace without pain.

But He has promised Strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer,
Light on the way,
Grace for the trial,
help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.


by: Annie Johnson Flint
http://www.christianbeliefs.org/articles/Godhasnot.html

Who’s Job is it?

There was an important job to be done

and Everybody was sure that

Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it,

but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that,

because it was Everybody's job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it,

but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody

when Nobody did

what Anybody could have done.

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/pronouns-notmyjob.htm

YOU

You are the fellow that has to decide
Whether you’ll do it or toss it aside.
You are the fellow who makes up your mind
Whether you’ll lead or will linger behind
Whether you’ll try for the goal that’s afar
Or just be contented to stay where you are.
Take it or leave it. Here’s something to do!
Just think it over — It’s all up to you!


What do you wish? To be known as a shirk,
Known as a good man who’s willing to work,
Scorned for a loafer or praised by your chief,
Rich man or poor man or beggar or thief?
Eager or earnest or dull through the day,
Honest or crooked? It’s you who must say!
You must decide in the face of the test
Whether you’ll shirk it or give it your best.

Nobody here will compel you to rise;
No one will force you to open your eyes;
No one will answer for you yes or no,
Whether to stay there or whether to go.
Life is a game, but it’s you who must say,
Whether as cheat or as sportsman you’ll play.
Fate may betray you, but you settle first
Whether to live to your best or your worst.


So, whatever it is you are wanting to be,
Remember, to fashion the choice you are free.
Kindly or selfish, or gentle or strong,
Keeping the right way or taking the wrong,
Careless of honor or guarding your pride,
All these are questions which you must decide.
Yours the selection, whichever you do;
The thing men call character’s all up to you!

from:

http://www.lovetolearnplace.com/Curriculum/YOU%20Worksheet.pdf
© 2002 Beverly Schmitt

Short story: Give Me the Simple Life

Satan called a worldwide convention. In his opening address to his evil angels, he said, "We can’t keep the Christians from going to church. We can’t keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth. We can’t even keep them from conservative values. But we can do something else. We can keep them from forming an intimate, abiding experiencing in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus Christ, our power over them is broken. So let them go to church, let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can’t gain that experience in their Savior.
This is what I want you to do, angels...distract them from gaining hold of their Savior and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day." "How shall we do this?" shouted his angels. "Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds," he answered. "Tempt them to spend, spend, then, borrow, borrow, borrow. Convince the wives to go to work and the husbands to work 6 to 7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work.
Over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive, to keep the TV, VCR and their CD’s going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ. Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Fill their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogues and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes. Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don’t let them go out in nature. Send them amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead. And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotion. Let them be involved in soul wining. But crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their healthy and family unity for the good of the cause."
It was quite a convention in the end. And the evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy and rush here and there.

Has satan accomplished his goals?





from: http://www.care1.org/articles/a02_simple_life.htm

I am a RESPONSIBLE G!rL/ Boy

I Am A Responsible Boy.

"The parents of my girlfriend place their trust in me. I will not violate it.

I will respect my girlfriend as I expect other men to respect my sister.

I will respect womanhood because my mother is a woman. I will ask my girlfriend to do nothing that I would be ashamed of if my mother found out.

My girlfriend has given me the honor and pleasure of her company. It is wrong for me to expect more in payment for this date.

My girlfriend will be a wife and mother someday. She must be an example to her children and the pride of her husband. I will help her to be as pure and decent as I want my own wife to be.

Manhood means strength of character as well as of body. Lack of self-control is a sign of weakness. I want my girlfriend to know I am manly.

God is everywhere, sees everything, knows everything. Darkness may hide me from people, but it cannot hide me from God.

If, through my lack of self-control, I should get a girl pregnant, I will not put pressure on her to kill our unborn child.

I Am A Responsible Girl.

"My kisses are worth more than a party or a movie.

My body is the temple of God - not a plaything.

The first "NO" may be difficult - after that it's easy.

Virginity is still a virtue; lust is still a capital sin.

The way I dress, act and speak may be a temptation to my boyfriend, so I will observe modesty for his and my own protection.

My parents have done so much for me. I wish always to be a credit to them.

My boyfriend will be a husband and a father someday.

He must be a hero in the eyes of his wife and children. I will do nothing to prevent that on my dates with him.

I want to be a wife and mother. I will reserve my purity and affection for my husband and my children.

But if, through my weakness, I should get pregnant, I will not take "the easy way out" by killing my unborn child."

copied from: [09/24/97]

http://www.lifeissues.org/radio/r1997/lr1623.htm

Diary of an unborn child

September 19:

Today my life began. My parents do not know it yet, but it is I already. And I am to be a girl. I shall have blond hair and blue eyes. Just about everything is settled though, even the fact that I shall love flowers.

October 3:

Some say that I am not a real person yet, that only my mother exists. But I am a real person, just as a small crumb of bread is yet truly bread. My mother is. And I am.

October 7:

My mouth is just beginning to open now. Just think, in a year or so I shall be laughing and later talking. I know what my first word will be: MAMA.

October 9:

My heart began to beat today all by itself. From now on it shall gently beat for the rest of my life without ever stopping to rest! And after many years it will tire. It will stop, and then I shall die.

October 17:

I am growing a bit every day. My arms and legs are beginning to take shape. But I have to wait a long time yet before those little legs will raise me to my mother's arms, before those little arms will be able to gather flowers and embrace my father.

October 27:

Tiny fingers are beginning to form on my hands. Funny how small they are! I'll be able to stroke my mother's hair with them.

November 4:

It wasn't until today that the doctor told mom that I am living here under her heart. Oh, how happy she must be! Are you happy, mom?

November 9:

My mom and dad are probably thinking about a name for me. But they don't even know that I am a little girl. I want to be called Kathy. I am getting so big already.

November 24:

My hair is growing. It is smooth and bright and shiny. I wonder what kind of hair mom has?

November 27:

I am just about able to see. It is dark around me. When mom brings me into the World it will be full of sunshine and flowers. But what I want more than anything is to see my mom. How do you look, mom!

December 8:

I wonder if mom hears the whispering of my heart? Some children come into the World a little sick. But my heart is strong and healthy. It beats so evenly: tup-tup, tup-tup. You'll have a healthy little daughter, mom!

December 12:

Today my mother killed me.


-from research and readings