I wish to be simple, honest, natural, frank, clean in mind and clean in body, unaffected - ready to say I do not know if so it be, to meet all men on an absolute equality to face any obstacle and meet every difficulty unafraid and unabashed. I wish others to live their lives too up to their highest, fullest and best. To that end, I pray that I may never meddle, dictate, interfere, give advice that is not wanted, nor assist when my services are not needed. If I can help people I'll do it by giving them a chance to help themselves! And if I can uplift or inspire let it be by example, inference and suggestion rather than by injunction and dictation. ELBERT HUBBARD. Our Heavenly Father, the sweet and beautiful things the new day brings to us are new tokens of Thy love and care. Thy angels come to us on the wings of the morning, with gentle messages, and the whole earth is full of joy. Why should we be comfortless? May we spend the day with Thee. Then we shall serve our age and minister to our time. How content and satisfied we are when we feel Thy presence near us. Then it is we are unafraid of trouble and triumphant in conflict. Then we can lessen pain and lighten toil, and make the way full of sunlight and music to our less fortunate fellowtravelers. This is our prayer and purpose. Amen. ARTHUR HENRY GOODENOUGH. That is no true alms which the hand can hold; He gives nothing but worthless gold For a god goes with it and makes it store O Thou, who knowest the end from the beginning and who orderest the affairs of Thy children according to the dictates of infinite love, grant us a vision of the Christ. Increase our faith. Help us to go forth to the experiences of this new day with a new realization of the presence of Jesus. Speak to our hearts as Thou didst speak to Joshua, teaching us to be “strong and very courageous. Deliver us from that selfishness that is given to self-pity and help us to approach this day's privilege of service with enthusiastic self-devotion. We thank Thee that the fire already kindles in our hearts and we go forth believing that Thou art with us. Amen. GEORGE STEVENS WHEELER. "As thy day thy strength shall be !" When thy days are veiled in night, 1 Cold and wintry though they prove, FRANCES RIDLEY HAVERGAL. sure. We thank Thee, Lord, that Thy promises are The clouds of the outer world are governed by Thy faithful laws, and come and go obedient to Thy righteous will; so help us this day to realize that the clouds which shadow our spirits are no less subject to Thy purposes of grace, and, in Thine own time, may shed grateful and refreshing showers upon our souls. We believe that all things work together for good to them that love God. Deepen and perfect our love. Make our belief in Thy goodness and omnipotence steadfast amid the storms that veil Thy face, and strengthen and confirm our hope in Thy mercy until it shall anchor in the harbor of Thy love. Amen. GEORGE S. PAYSON. The Infinite always is silent; We may question with wand of science, Explain, decide, and discuss; But only in meditation The Mystery speaks to us. JOHN BOYLE O'Reilly. Heavenly Father, the new day bids us once more meet the world that is so vast and so terrible that we cannot face it alone. So our hearts pause at the threshold of the morning, and hush their murmurs to be strengthened by the assurance that Thou art greater than the universe. We do not ask to have the fact of Thy greatness and care demonstrated to our reason; we only pray that we may feel it as we listen to our own souls' whisper and to the chastened message of Thy peace. We would bathe our souls in the atmosphere of trust and courage which Thou dost create for all those who love Thee and who seek to do Thy will. Amen. OZORO S. DAVIS. These are the days when birds come back, A very few, a bird or two, To take a backward look. These are the days when skies put on A blue and gold mistake. The day dawn makes us go to Thee, O God. Thou kindlest the sun and Thy daylight wakens bird and babe and sleeping world. Set up Thy Kingdom in our hearts to-day and make us glad as we share the sweet sacrament of love together. Heal the wounded, send messages of mercy to those in pain and age extreme, and guide the feet of little children everywhere. Thou makest these Autumn days to be full of Thy glory. May we see God in every flaming bush and tree, and in the increase on land and sea. Ripen and sweeten and mellow us by the spirit of the great Master. Amen. CONRAD HOOKER. |