SELF-PRESERVATION

Phil

Apr 22, 20203 min read

"......to give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

To work and not to seek for rest,"

- REALLY?

SHEILA CASSIDY (continued from yesterday)

“I have to learn and re-learn that I do not have the strength to do all the things I want to do. If I am too proud, or too stupid, or too guilt-ridden

to take time out to care for myself,

who else will? And if I fall apart,

then who will care for those who depend upon me?

Do we not owe it to those we serve to accept our limitations and cherish our minds and bodies, so that we will be available to serve them a little longer? I have learned to be very wary of the famous prayer of St Ignatius Loyola:

Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous,

To give and not to count the cost,

to fight and not to heed the wounds,

To work and not to seek for rest,

Save in the knowledge that we do your will.

Is it REALLY the will of God that we should deny our humanity and work ourselves into the ground? I suspect not. I’m not talking about times of disaster or emergency, then surely we are all called to push ourselves to the limits of endurance. No – I’m talking about routine day-to-day. We must take time out. We must take days off and holidays, because, however dedicated, we are just human.”

Holy and perfect God,

you know I want to be available.

Help that desire sink deeply enough into my being

for me to actually change

and to say "no" to a least one worthy, but not urgent, task today.

Give me the ability to be open to the life I AM leading;

not the one I am planning to lead.

Lord, please, put Your peace in my heart. I'm worried and anxious. My mind races and obsesses. I can't help but think about my problems. And the more I think about them, the more depressed I become.

Calm me, Lord. Slow me down. No matter what problem I have, You are bigger, more powerful than it is. So I bring my problem to You. I know what I want. I know my will. I do not know Yours. I do not know how You will use this problem

and turn it round to work for my good; But I trust You. I trust Your goodness and Your wisdom. So I place myself in Your hands.

Hands that touched the leper,

touch my wounded heart;

Hands that healed the blind man,

heal my aching soul;

Hands that cured the lame,

mend my disjointed life;

Hands that embraced life and death, enfold us in your peace. Please - touch, heal, cure, forgive.

Giles Harcourt

When evil darkens our world, give us light.

When despair numbs our souls, give us hope.

When we stumble and fall, lift us up.

When doubts assail us, give us faith.

When nothing seems sure, give us trust.

When ideals fade, give us vision.

When we lose our way, be our guide!

That we may find serenity in Your presence,

and purpose in doing Your will.

John D. Rayner

From pain and weariness,