| 46. ONE
THING I NEED
Lord, I need only one thing in this
world; to know myself and to love you. Give me your love and your grace;
with these I am satisfied and desire nothing more.
47. WORKING PEOPLE
Dear God
Your Son was a carpenter, But some
people look down on those who work with their hands. Inspire those in
offices and factories, on farms and in machine shops, to put heart into
what they do, to take pride in their strength and the products of their
toil. They couldn't have a better example. Amen.
48. PRAYER TO BE A BETTER LISTENER
We do not really listen to each other,
God, at least not all the time. Instead of true dialogue, we carry on two
parallel monologues. I talk. My companion talks. But what we are really
concentrating on is how to sound good, how to make our points strongly,
how to outshine the person with whom we are talking. Teach us to listen as
your Son listened to everyone who spoke with him. Remind us that, somehow,
you are trying to reach us through our partner in conversation. Your
truth, your love, your goodness are seeking us out in the truth, love and
goodness being communicated. When our words are harsh, hostile, angry, we
convey the very opposite of those qualities. Teach us to be still, Lord,
that we may truly hear our brothers and sisters and, in them You.
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49. GOD, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ANYWAY?
God, what are you doing up there
anyway? I heard the radio this morning and all they talked about were
murders and horrible accidents. I watched TV at night and saw starving
refugees in foreign countries. I read my science book and learn about the
horrors of a nuclear war. God, what are you doing up there anyway? What do
you mean it's up to me? I can't stop wars, murders, floods and fires. I
can't make poor people rich or rich people generous. I don't even have
much money to give to the missions. What do you mean it's up to me, God?
Well, I could cut down on junk food and give the money to the Mwangaza
collection. And I'd like to study more about the arms race. Maybe, if we
didn't spend so much on guns, God, there would be more money to help poor
people around the world to build homes and grow food. You know, God, I'm
only one person. But if you will help me to do the caring thing, I believe
my little bit CAN make a difference, I want to try.
50. WITNESS
To be a witness does not consist
engaging in propaganda nor even in stirring people up, but in being a
living mystery. It means to live in such a way that one's life would not
make sense if GOD did not exist.
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