Sometimes our needs are really quite simple. Deep within us, our desires truly speak of something good. We just don’t hear them often, maybe because of fear, or our willingness to face whatever difficulties we need to face in order to reach them.
They need to be awakened however, so we can live full and meaningful lives. We need to hear what it is we truly, deeply, and sincerely desire.
Lord, from you comes indeed the words of life. I write not out of my own knowledge. I write not out of my own whims. Everything I write I jot down only in behalf of you. For it is you O Lord who speaks unto me your wisdom and it is you O Lord who reveals unto me the truth. How I desire to share the things you taught me. How I pray to make known your beauty and your saving grace. Yet wretched instrument that I am, how often do I fail to reflect the Light that has come upon me. How my words fall short of the eloquence of your thoughts. I am weighed down by the darkness that still looms within me. By fears that shake the strokes of my pen. How then shall others understand? How then shall lives be touched and changed?
It is no wonder people laugh at my works and make a joke of my labors. They find all the wrong things about it and discourage me all the time for my useless pursuit. Some were courteous enough to stay silent, but I know that they read them not as well. They turn a few pages and soon fall soundly asleep. They pretend to have read it yet says not anything they learned from it. They think I’m crazy trying to do what I do. They think I waste my time with toils from which I profit not.
Yet do I waste my time indeed? And what is the profit I should seek? Is it not to be content in your Holy Presence? Is it not to learn each day from you? Is it not the healing of my own wounds as you give me words that soothe the pain of my own heart? For the gift you have given me is thy gift to me indeed. Even before its fragrance blesses others, your perfume anoints me and gives me joy I can never exchange for any profit that this world knows of. You have blessed me indeed. You have been patient with my blunders. You have given me your smile as I pushed on.
O Dear Father, let me not give up now. Help me as I hone your gifts night and day. Renew my strength as I tread the path that is both lonesome and rought, as I face struggles that are truly great and long. And if I should offer my own blood with which to write down every word, let me offer it willingly and joyfully as you have offered your own. Let me weep not for my own pain. Let me not complain for my own cross. For it is through suffering that others may be relieved, through my own wounds that others may be healed. And it is through this cross that hopes will be rekindled, bringing forth the good news of a brand new day. Amen.
Dear Jesus, they say that the world is so beautiful and it is just a pity that I couldn’t see it. They say that there are so many wonderful colors around, colors that make you happy and that brightens up your day. They exclaim, “What a beautiful sunrise!” or “What a magnificent sunset!”, and then they tell me just how much they wanted to share those things to me. And I believe they are able to, Jesus. They are able to share their happiness with me even if they’re not able to share their eyes. And I am grateful to them. I thank you for all the wondrous gifts you have given us in this world. [...]
Dear Father, the noise of the world is too great; the demands of the day too high. Things are happening so fast that they are over even before I begin to realize that they have come. I don’t know anymore which of the things I do makes any sense at all. I don’t know anymore where I am going though too often I find myself rushing about so much, afraid that I might be left behind if I care to find a single moment of peace. [...]
Dear Lord, I have just come from a family reunion, and they have asked me again whence I shall be finally settling down. Yes, Lord, each time they see me they would ask me the same old question, and I would say the same answer: “I don’t know”. Sometimes I don’t want to answer them anymore. Sometimes I just want to tell them to mind their own business. But I know that would not be pleasing to you. And that would only hurt the people who are only concerned that I finally find my happiness. [...]
Lord God, won’t you bless this lottery ticket I bought today? Bless it Lord with your generous hand and grant me the blessing of being able to live a new way of life. I can’t recall any special deeds I made to be deserving of what I ask and I know I missed Sunday masses quite a number of times but I desire to come to you now and ask this special favor. You are the only one who can grant my prayers, the only one who can listen to my pleas and deliver me from my sins. Lord, some people say that this is not a good way to reach one’s dreams, to improve one’s life. People say that those who buy these tickets are those who want to harvest what they didn’t sow, get paid for a fortune they havent worked for. They say that the people who buy these tickets are lazy good-for-nothing people who are already desperate in the kind of lives they live. [...]
O God, I am ashamed even if only to call upon your name. How can I even whisper your Holy Name? How can I even lift my eyes towards heaven? I am a sinner. And I have greatly displeased you. I have defiled my own body, the sacred temple I should have kept holy and taken care of with the highest honor and respect. I have failed you so much and so greatly. I have failed the only One who has ever loved me. [...]
© . We are not here to be entertained. We are here to live a meaningful life that makes a lasting difference.
Stephenie Desano
