Morning Meditation, June 23, 2020
Today’s meditation focuses on peace, and on awareness of our breath. Our readings include an interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer, from A New Zealand Prayer Book, as well as a reading from the works of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
From Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Write it on your heart
That every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
Who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
Begin it well and serenely with too high a spirit
To be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This new day is too dear,
With its hopes and invitations,
To waste a moment on the yesterdays.
and a version of the Lord’s Prayer, from the New Zealand/Maori Anglican liturgy, A New Zealand Prayer Book (Harper Collins 1997, p.181):
Eternal Spirit, Earth-maker, Pain bearer, Life-giver
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:
The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth!
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trial too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For you reign in the glory of the power that is love, now and forever.
Amen.
