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. 08. 21

Today’s Reflection: A New Serenity Prayer
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the people I cannot change,
which is pretty much everyone,
since I’m clearly not you, God.
At least not the last time I checked.

And while you’re at it, God,
please give me the courage
to change what I need to change about myself,
which is frankly a lot, since, once again,
I’m not you, which means I’m not perfect.
It’s better for me to focus on changing myself
than to worry about changing other people,
who, as you’ll no doubt remember me saying,
I can’t change anyway.

Finally, give me the wisdom to just shut up
whenever I think that I’m clearly smarter
than everyone else in the room,
that no one knows what they’re talking about except me,
or that I alone have all the answers.

Basically, God,
grant me the wisdom
to remember that I’m
not you.
Amen. — James Martin, SJ
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. 07. 21

Today’s Reflection: The Serenity Prayer (short form)
God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference. — Reinhold Niebuhr.
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. 06. 21

Today’s Reflection: Pray….Wait….Trust! — Spotted on a bumper sticker.
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. 05. 21

Today’s Reflection: Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things — 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. 04. 21

Today’s Reflection: Start your day with these simple yet powerful prayers:
Forgive me Lord.
Guide me Lord.
Protect me Lord.
Bless me Lord.
Thank you Lord. Amen. — Unattributed.
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. daily.

Morning Offering: 05. 03. 21

Today’s Reflection: The garden is a metaphor for life, and gardening is a symbol of the spiritual path. — Larry Dossey.
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. 02. 21

Today’s Reflection: Lord, may we always know the depth of your love for us!
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. 01. 21

Today’s Reflection: Dear Lord,
Help me to listen to you in prayer as much as you listen to me. Amen. — Unattributed.
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: 04. 30. 21.

Today’s Reflection: Love this psalm – As the deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God. — from Psalm 42.1.
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: 04. 29. 21

Today’s Reflection: I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. – John 15:5-6.
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.