Words to Live By

The enthusiasm of a friend of mine from the St. Louis area for the writings of John O'Donohue has gotten me to read some of his stuff of late. O'Donohue was an Irishman, a poet, and a deep-thinker in living beyond the excesses and anxieties of our age to find simplicity of heart and life before God and the world. He passed away two years ago leaving a treasure trove of his thoughts, insights and observations.

I'm reading To Bless The Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings as a devotional of sorts and thought some of his thoughts particularly applicable as a new year approaches. He certainly captures some of the deepest cries of my heart:

May I live this day compassionate in heart, clear in Word, gracious in awareness,

generous in love.

Wow! Me too! And this:

May I have the courage today to live the life that I would love, to postpone my dream no longer but do at last what I came her for and waste my heart on fear no more.

That's my prayer for you as this new year unfolds, as long as the dream was first Father's dream. Chasing our own only leads to frustration. Following his is as much a joy in the going, painful though it be at times, as it is in the having! Happy New Year to all our brothers and sisters across the world!