Risk

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool,
To weep is to risk being called sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk showing your true self.
To place your ideas and your dreams before the crowd is to risk being called naive.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure

But risks must be taken, because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow or love.
Chained by his certitude, he is a slave; he has forfeited his freedom.
Only the person who risks is truly free.

An inspirational piece of writing by Janet Rand.

 Image courtesy of  Master isolated images /FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Love yourself too...

"Love is the centre and the core of everything, and that Self is the place where all love must begin. Those who love others grandly are those who love themselves grandly. Those who have a high toleration and acceptance of others are those who have a high toleration and acceptance of themselves. You cannot show another a part of you that you cannot show yourself. Therefore, begin where all growth, where all evolution, where all love must begin: with the person in the mirror.

Will you not love yourself grandly today? For the world's sake?"



Neale Donald Walsch

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

summer prayer

Under the warmth of the summer sun
the world awakes and blossoms into every imaginable color.
You created a garden for us to enjoy
and within it planted the most magical of flower and trees.
You needed no horticultural training to plan your color scheme,
no gardening expert to recommend variety or design.
Your garden is perfect its colors harmonious its scale immense
spoilt only by the clumsiness of those who tend it.

Creator God who breathed this world into being
who is discernible within the harmony of nature,
the perfection of a butterfly's wing,
the grandeur of a mountain range,
and the soaring eagle and humming bird,
thank you for this world which you have created.
Thank you for summer sun which reminds us
that your creative breath is still alive and active.
Thank you for the warmth of your love
sustaining this world: your garden.
- John Birch, Summer prayer

Glory

Glory to you for flowing air.
Glory for light beyond compare.
Glory for water as it flows.
Glory for soil and all that grows.
Glory for life and love and birth.
Glory to you, Lord of the Earth. 

- David Adam,' The Open Gate: Celtic Prayers for Growing Spiritually'

Image courtesy of dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Summer prayer

Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank you for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all around me
and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.
Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family,
and for the more casual pace of the summer season.
Draw me closer to You this summer.
Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence
and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.
As I enjoy Your creation,
create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.
Amen

- Summer prayer from ‘Ignatian spirituality’

 Image "Yellow Cosmos Flower And Blue Sky" courtesy of Sura Nualpradid / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A summer prayer

Father, Creator of all, thank You for summer!
Thank you for the warmth of the sun and the increased daylight.
Thank You for the beauty I see all around me
and for the opportunity to be outside and enjoy Your creation.
Thank You for the increased time I have to be with my friends and family,
and for the more casual pace of the summer season.
Draw me closer to You this summer.
Teach me how I can pray no matter where I am or what I am doing.
Warm my soul with the awareness of Your presence
and light my path with Your Word and Counsel.
As I enjoy Your creation,
create in me a pure heart and a hunger and a thirst for You.
- Summer prayer from ‘Ignatian spirituality’

(Photo by me.)

I wish you...

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys 
in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye."

- Unity Church, 'I Wish You Enough'

Image "Family" courtesy of arztsamui  / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

peace

“Peace is not the product of terror or fear.

Peace is not the silence of cemeteries.

Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.

Peace is the generous,

tranquil contribution of all

to the good of all.

Peace is dynamism.

Peace is generosity.

It is right and it is duty.” 

― Oscar A. Romero

photo by me

Looking ahead

Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
Rather look to them with full hope that as they arise,
God, whose very own you are,
will lead you safely through all things;
And when you cannot stand it,
God will carry you in His arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
The same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you today and every day.
He will either shield you from suffering or will give you
unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts
and imaginations.
- St. Francis de Sales

 Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Using time

May the God of time and eternity
who gave us twenty four hours in each day. 
Enliven your senses so that you may truly 
See what you are looking at 
Taste what you are eating 
Listen to what you are hearing
Face what you are suffering 
Celebrate the ways that you are loved 
And offer whatever you are doing to God. 
So that the water of the present moment 
may be turned into wine. 
- Ray Simpson, Prayer Rhymes for busy people

Image courtesy of prozac1/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net