All I Have

Picture source.

Lord Jesus,
I am not an eagle.
All I have are the eyes
and the heart of one.
In spite of my littleness,
I dare to gaze at the sun of love
and long to fly toward it.
I want to imitate the eagles,
but all I can do is flap my small wings.
What shall I do?
With cheerful confidence I shall stay
gazing at the sun until I die.
Nothing will frighten me,
neither wind nor rain.
O my beloved sun,
I delight in feeling small and helpless
in Your presence;
and my heart is at peace.

--St. Therese de Lisieux

Check-in: week three

Picture source.

More virtual coffee talk and sharing after the third week of 15 more minutes a day...

This is an opportunity to share the struggles and the joys in the comments box. This week's prompts have had a focus on devotion this week:
becoming,
patience,
encouragement,
the cross,
the ordinary,
and living out delight.

How is it going, and where are we at?

This week's scripture: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

The duty of delight

Delight.

How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy. It is a psychological truth that the physical acts of reverence and devotion make one feel devout. The courteous gesture increases one's respect for others. To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others which in turn makes one feel joyful. I believe we are called to the duty of delight.

--Dorothy Day

In the ordinary

Raindrops on dandelion.

You may be wrong when you say that being religious is difficult. The truth is there is only one thing required of you--total faithfulness to God.

This devotion can become a part of your life in active and passive ways. You are actively loyal to God when you keep his commandments. Passive loyalty is a loving acceptance of whatever God sends you every moment of every day.

God does not require of us more than we can deliver. Could anything be fairer or more sensible? He will not push you beyond your strength and capacity.

Your life is made up of innumerable trivial activities. If they are done in the right spirit, this is enough to satisfy God. We do our part and God does the rest....

This is what it means to be holy. It may be difficult to see, but there is nothing hidden or secret about it. God offers holiness to us everywhere, all the time. We will receive it in great quantity from both friends and enemies. There is no better way to be "religious" than by finding God in everything that comes our way each moment.

--Jean-Pierre de Caussade,
Abandonment to Divine Providence

Carrying your cross

Crucifixes.

God is a clever designer of crosses. Some are as heavy as iron or lead. Others are as light as straw. He constructs impressive crosses of gold and jewels. He uses all the things we like best. In spite of their great variety, crosses have two things in common. They are hard to carry, and they crucify.

...One may be crucified while the world envies his good fortune! Prestige can be more painful than arthritis.

--Francois de Fenelon,
Meditations and Devotions

Encouragement

Look up.

Banish discouragement from your heart as best you can, and if trouble comes, never let it depress or hinder you for long. At the least, bear it bravely if you cannot bear it cheerfully. Even if you are reluctant to bear it, and feel indignant, yet control yourself, and let no rash words escape you that may harm Christ's little ones. The violence of your feelings will soon subside, and grace return to heal your inner pain. I live, (Isa 49:18) says the Lord, "ready to help and comfort you more than ever, if you will trust Me and call on Me with devotion.

--from The Imitation of Christ
Thomas a Kempis

Patience

Sunrise in winter.

The rising of devotion in an ordinary soul is like the dawning of a new day. Darkness is not driven away immediately. Light comes in small increments, moment by moment. The saying is that a slow cure is best. Sicknesses of the soul are like those of the body. They come galloping in on horseback, but depart slowly on foot.

Have courage and by patient. Many see themselves as still imperfect after trying to be devout a long time. The opposite temptation is far more hazardous. Some figure everything is fixed on the first day! They have scarcely begun. They want to fly without wings. They are taking a great risk of relapse if they stop seeing the doctor too soon.

Purging the soul is a lifetime effort. There is no reason to be upset by our imperfections. Perfection is nothing more than fighting against them. How can we resist them unless we see them? How can we overcome them unless we face them?

--St. Francis de Sales
The Introduction to the Devout Life

Becoming

Autumn reveals.

If you become who you are, you will set the whole world on fire.

--St. Catherine of Siena

Keep your gaze fixed

Picture source.

"I have told you again and again that I am coming.

I tell you I am here.

I tell you I am with you.

The time is now at hand. I have need of you.

Rise up; rise up but draw together around me.

Do not look yet to the battle that lies ahead. Look only to me.

Draw near to me. My arms are wide enough and great enough to embrace you all.

Draw near to me.

Draw near to my heart for I will reveal my plans to you,
and I will show you the part that I have given you to play.

You are little, you are small, but I can use you.
It is not your power; it is mine.
It is not your will; it is my Spirit.

Keep your gaze fixed on me.

Rise up from the bench. Gather around Me.

Stay very near to Me and I will speak, says the Lord."

--Word of God Community