Religion is actually not a crutch; it is a cross. It is not an escape, it is a burden; not a flight, but a response. We speak here of a religion with teeth in it, the wind that demands self-sacrifice and surrender. One leans on a crutch, but a cross rests on us. A coward can use a crutch, but it takes a hero to embrace a cross.
If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me. I should be the saddest creature in the world if I knew I were not in His grace.
(pray for us)
“Lord, protect our doubts, because Doubt is a way of praying. It is Doubt that makes us grow because it forces us to look fearlessly at the many answers that exist to one question. And in order for this to be possible…
Lord, protect our decisions, because making Decisions is a way of praying. Give us the courage, after our doubts, to be able to choose between one road and another. May our YES always be a YES and our NO always be a NO. Once we have chosen our road, may we never look back nor allow our soul to be eaten away by remorse. And in order for this to be possible…
Lord, protect our actions, because Action is a way of praying. May our daily bread be the result of the very best that we carry within us. May we, through work and Action, share a little of the love we receive. And in order for this to be possible…
Lord, protect our dreams, because to Dream is a way of praying. Make sure that, regardless of our age or our circumstances, we are capable of keeping alight in our heart the sacred flame of hope and perseverance. And in order for this to be possible…
Lord, give us enthusiasm, because Enthusiasm is a way of praying. It is what binds us to the Heavens and to Earth, to grown-ups and to children, it is what tells us that our desires are important and deserve our best efforts. It is Enthusiasm that reaffirms to us that everything is possible, as long as we are totally committed to what we are doing. And in order for this to be possible…
Lord, protect us, because Life is the only way we have of making manifest Your miracle. May the earth continue to transform seeds into wheat, may we continue to transmute wheat into bread. And this is only possible if we have Love; therefore, do not leave us in solitude. Always give us Your company, and the company of men and women who have doubts, who act and dream and feel enthusiasm, and who live each day as if it were totally dedicated to Your glory.
Amen.”
— (from “The Prayer That I Forget”) Paulo Coelho (Like the Flowing River)
Source: claypotsandpoetry
You are more than a list of mistakes
and if anyone tells you otherwise, let it be the last they make.
Words
A different, yet vital perspective. Sans the swearing.
When someone steps forward and says, “Your usage of this word is hurtful and you need to examine your speech,” the correct path here would be to examine your speech, not to continue railing against them because you can’t accept the fact that maybe, just maybe, you are wrong.
I know it’s hard to be wrong. It’s hard to swallow your pride and admit that you made a mistake - I get that. But when someone informs you that you are wrong, and you continue to repeat those words or that action, you are going from making a forgivable error to being malicious. There is no excuse for consciously deciding to harm someone. If you want to go around using other people’s very existence as slurs and jokes, acting like a child who doesn’t know any better, well… You’re not a child anymore, you’re not on the playground, and this kind of discourse is no longer acceptable or excusable.
Do not turn it around on the person and try to say they’re too sensitive - you are not sensitive enough. And don’t try to shirk responsibility when we call you on it. You are at fault here, REPEAT, YOU ARE AT FAULT HERE. When you defend your ~right~ to say these things, you’re essentially saying that your ability to hurt people is more important to you than stopping and thinking about the things you say and who you say them to, which is downright disgusting.
Your right to be an asshole is not, and never will be, more important than someone else’s right to go about their lives without being used as your punchline.
(via fujiidom)
Source: rosewater-sailor
