Author Archives: fromareportersnotebook

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About fromareportersnotebook

Former reporter and city editor at The Tribune, Welland, On. Active in various community groups and initiatives, married with two grown children, interested in roses specifically and gardening in general. A collection of previously-written columns was published in book form in the fall of 2013 and is available by contacting the writer at: fromareportersnotebook@gmail.com. It sells for $20.

Morning Offering: 05. 31. 26

Today’s Reflection: You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope. – Thomas Merton

Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 30. 26

Today’s Reflection:

In a breath of silence, in a whisper,

God speaks to you humbly. –  Brother Roger of Taize  

Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 29. 26

Today’s Reflection: Lord, as I face these trying times, I find my faith often shaken. It seems that when difficulties arise and  I should stand most firm in my faith that I am instead most lost and confused about my beliefs. Forgive me for this. Strengthen me during my times of hesitation. Give me the trust and hope that all will unfold according to your plan. – The Passionists of Holy Cross province.

Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 28. 26

Today’s Reflection: Speak Gently In My Silence

Dear Lord,

Speak gently in my silence.

When the loud outer noises of my  

surroundings and the loud inner noises of my  

fears keep pulling me away from you, help me  

to trust that you are still there even when I am  

unable to hear you. Give me ears to listen to  

your small, soft voice saying: “Come to me,  

you who are overburdened, and I will give you rest ….. for I am gentle and humble of heart.” 

Let that loving voice be my guide.

Amen. –  Henri Nouwen 

Morning Offering is a daily post by Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 27. 26

Today’s Reflection: HERMIT RULES 23 & 24...

23. God alone suffices. Be open to the Mystery. Authentic silence draws you to rest, like a child, in the Lord Himself.

24. Silence consists, above all, in being quiet so as to be always ready to receive something greater.  – Bodmin Hermit

Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 26. 26

Today’s Reflection: St. Augustine’s Prayer for Bravery

God of our life,

There are days when the burdens we carry

chafe our shoulders and weigh us down;

when the road seems dreary and endless,

the skies grey and threatening;

when our lives have no music in them,

and our hearts are lonely, and our souls have lost their courage.

Flood the path with light, turn our eyes to where the skies are full of promise;

tune our hearts to brave music;

give us the sense of comradeship

with heroes and saints of every age;

and so quicken our spirits that we may be able to encourage

the souls of all who journey with us

on the road of life,

to your honor and glory. Amen.

Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his home town of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 25. 26

Today’s Reflection: Our Lady of the Way

Our Lady of the Way,
stay with us when we grow weary of the journey;
for the road is long
and our hearts are weak.
Strengthen us with the patience and fortitude
to continue on
in pursuit of a whole and just world;
in pursuit of a whole and just self.
Come, be our guide.

Our Lady of the Way,
lead us when we cannot see the path.
Take us by the hand as a Mother;
whispering comfort in our ears,
steering us through the dark,
guarding us from the terrors of the night.
Infuse us with your courage,
with your refusal to bow to fear and the unknown.
For in you we find the Light that moves us forward.

Our Lady of the Way,
show us the mystery you revealed to Ignatius
so many years past:
the mystery of letting go.
That we would not cling to our packs nor our sandals nor our cloaks
but release to the path what the path requires.
Because for all that we lay down,
we pick up something greater;
we pick up freedom.

Our Lady of the Way,
show us the way.
Amen. –  Attributed to Mary Dixon Thayer, American Catholic poet best known for devotional Marian verse.

Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his home town of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 24. 26

Today’s Reflection: Lightening the Load

The first thing we have to do
is to notice
that we’ve loaded down this camel
with so much baggage
we’ll never get through the desert alive.
Something has to go.

Then we can begin to dump
the thousand things
we’ve brought along
until even the camel has to go
and we’re walking barefoot
on the desert sand.

There’s no telling what will happen then.
But I’ve heard that someone,
walking in this way,
has seen a burning bush.–  Francis Dorff, O. Praem

Morning Offering is a daily posy by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.

Morning Offering: 05. 21. 26

Today’s Reflection: FAITH

We trust that beyond absence there is a presence.

That beyond pain there can be healing.

That beyond brokenness there can be wholeness.

That beyond anger there may be peace.

That beyond hurting there may be forgiveness.

That beyond silence there may be the Word. – Bodmin Hermit post

Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.

Morning Offering is posted by 8 a.m.