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. 15. 25

Today’s Reflection:  Healing

Lord, as I navigate the storms of life, I acknowledge the challenges and difficulties I face. I ask for your guidance and strength to help me weather these turbulent times. May you bring peace and calm to my heart, and may I find solace in your presence.  Bodmin Hermit, based on Psalm 107:29

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. 14. 25

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. – Fr. 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. 13. 25

Today’s Reflection:  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.
—from the Serenity Prayer by 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.

(Note: repeated in response to a request)

Morning Offering: 05. 12. 25

Today’s Reflection:  Lord,
soften my heart to love as you love, to forgive as you forgive, and to reach out in grace even when it’s hard. Amen. — CAFOD Catholic prayer site 

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. 11. 25

Today’s Reflection:  Lord Jesus, open my eyes and my heart that I may walk in your light. Amen. —Jesuit Prayer team

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. 10. 25

Today’s Reflection: 

My deepest awareness of myself is that I am deeply loved by Jesus Christ and I have done nothing to earn or deserve it.—  Author unknown

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. 08. 25

Today’s Reflection: 

Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates:

Is it true?

Is it necessary?

Is it kind?  — Author unknown 

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.

(Repeated in response to a request)

Morning Offering: 05. 07. 25

Today’s Reflection: Let me seek, then, the gift of silence, … and solitude,
where everything I touch is turned into prayer:

where the sky is my prayer,
the birds are my prayer,
the wind in the trees is my prayer,
for God is all in all. —  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. 06. 25

Today’s Reflection: MORNING PRAYER –

Lord, as I begin this new day, I ask for your grace and guidance. Help me to stand strong against the discord and turmoil of the world. Grant me the strength to not be swayed by negativity. May my heart be a sanctuary of peace, untouched by the world’s anxieties.—  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.