It is also of course, a time to remember that we - pretty much every one of us - act badly,hurtfully and perhaps worse. We can be part of the greed and fear that torture our society and there are no doubt, other things that we do that do not
make our world a better place. Lent is a time not only to try to
recognise those but to try to work to make them less powerful in our
lives. That is why it is good to know in our deepest selves, how dear we are to God because from that love we can move forward.
The following are from the Insight magazine of Rosedale United Church in Toronto of several years ago. I have printed them before and have no idea who originally wrote them. They express something of what we can try to do to make ourselves and our world better. It is called, 'Do it anyway' and I reckon we also need to remember that there are two sides to the equation and we can be both!
People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centred. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are honest and sincere, people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
From the bulletin at church today: We know the sting of temptation; the desire to abuse power. hoard your gifts, abandon faith. But you God, you love us as we are. You gave us Jesus to show the way.
We should trust our good instincts no matter what we think others will say or do. Goodness in our world is built out of very small acts that in the end will triumph.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
From the bulletin at church today: We know the sting of temptation; the desire to abuse power. hoard your gifts, abandon faith. But you God, you love us as we are. You gave us Jesus to show the way.
We should trust our good instincts no matter what we think others will say or do. Goodness in our world is built out of very small acts that in the end will triumph.
1 comment:
"Do it anyway" is a wonderfully inspiring poem. It appears to have been written or at least edited by Mother Teresa: http://prayerfoundation.org/mother_teresa_do_it_anyway.htm
It's empowering to be reminded that each of us as individuals in our own small way can be a force for good. Even if it seems unlikely that our solitary efforts will make a difference, we should remember this Margaret Mead quote: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
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