Slow me down, Lord! Ease the pounding of my heart By the quieting of my mind. Steady my harried pace With a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, Amidst the confusions of my day, The calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tensions of my nerves With the soothing music Of the singing streams That live in my memory.
Help me to know The magical power of sleep, Teach me the art Of taking minute vacations Of slowing down To look at a flower; To chat with an old friend Or make a new one; To pet a dog; To watch a spider build a web; To smile at a child; Or to read a few lines from a good book.
Remind me each day That the race is not always won by the swift; That there is more to life Than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward Into the branches of the towering oak And know that it grew great and strong Because it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord, And inspire me to send my roots deep Into the soil of life’s enduring values That I may grow toward the stars Of our greater destiny. —Orin L. Crain
Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.
Today’s Reflection: Sunsets fill me with awe and hope for tomorrow. Sometimes sunsets make me sad because I think that I am now at the sunset of my life, not knowing what tomorrow may bring. Other times they make me joyful because a red sky usually promises the dawning of a beautiful next day. — Nerina Murray
Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.
Today’s Reflection: I have come to think that care of the soul requires a high degree of resistance to the culture around us, simply because that culture is dedicated to values that have no concern for the soul. — Thomas Merton, American monk, theologian, writer, social activist. (1915-1968)
Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.
Today’s Reflection: Lord, you are in control of the boat of my life. Grant me the grace to continue trusting in you and to be able to resist life’s strong winds and storms. Come with me and guide me always. Amen. — Ronald Ruiz Gill, SJ
Morning Offering is a daily post by Joe Barkovich who lives in his hometown of Welland, Ontario. Daily photo by Joe Barkovich.