Evening

At the setting of the sun,
to you, unfailing Light, I turn.
I thank you for the day now fading,
and pray you give
an evening of quiet to my spirit.
Let me rest in you that I may know
refreshment of soul, and peace of heart.
Silent and still, attentive to you alone,
let my soul breathe
no other breath than you, O Holy Spirit.

(Sanctifying the Day: Evening, from "Devotions to the Holy Spirit" by Brian Moore, SJ)

Between the Dreaming and the Coming True

I just finished reading an absolutely beautiful book, and it deserves a much longer post than I have time to write at the moment, but I wanted to share the closing lines of the book with you, because they grabbed at me and spoke deeply.

The journey between the dreaming and the coming true is a journey made on holy ground. It is a journey made through silence and longing where, if we will listen, we can hear the whisper of the Dreamer echoing deep within us, calling us to become what the Dreamer sees when our names were first whispered: saints who believe in and pay attention for and recognize the Voice; saints who live our lives in joy and confidence and hope rather than judgement and anxiety and desperation; saints whose hours and days and lives are spent carrying people to the Christ, lending each other a hand when one of us has fallen, slipping along the river that brings joy to to the heart of God, carrying God's peace and love and presence and life to those we meet along the way.

That is what we have been sent here to do. And we will. The Dreamer's dreams will always come true.

The book shares the same title as this post, and is by a man named Robert Benson, and you should all go out and pick it up and read it. It's skinny, and an easy read. But so beautifully written and deeply profound. Definitely a new favorite for me.

Praying

This headline caught my attention as soon as I woke and looked at the news this morning:
Scores Dead in Pakistan Quake.

I'm praying again for Pakistan. The quake doesn't seem to be near where my best friend is nursing, but just for a moment, my heart caught as I hurried to the article, hunting for a map. I'll be writing her shortly, to confirm that she's okay, as she's recently moved hospitals for a while, and I'm not sure precisely where the new hospital is located.

And I'm praying for clarity and guidance for some dear friends.

I'm praying for a 2.5 month old infant who's been sick all night, and for his mother, waiting with him in the hospital.

I'm praying for a smooth day at the office.

And I'm letting my heart simply talk with Jesus.

It's morning. Here we go.