I cut a part of an article written by Rabbi Harold Kushner in 1986. He was a Rabbi and author of many excellent books. You can get them easily on Amazon. Notable work: "When Bad Things Happen to Good People,' and ' When all you've every wanted isn't enough." Rabbi Kushner was born in 1935 in Brooklyn, NYC. Here's a quotation I really like a lot:
"There are persons who shape their lives by the fear of death, and persons who shape their lives by the joy of life. The former live dying; the latter die living. Whenever I die, intend to die living. When we stop searching for Immortal Deeds that will give our life meaning and concentrate instead on filling our days with small moments that gratify us, we will find the only possible answer to the question, ‘What is life about?’ It is not about writing great books, or amassing great wealth or power. It is about loving and being loved. It is about enjoying food and sitting in the sun rather than rushing through lunch and hurrying back to the office. It is about savoring the transitory beauty of sunsets, the leaves turning color, the rare moments of true human communication." (From his book, " When Bad Things Happen to Good People ") Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. This is a Thanksgiving prayer I thought you would like. It was written by the mother of advice columnist, "Dear Abby," many years ago. I saved it in my 2012 Journal because it was the type of traditional prayer my parents often used.
I'm sure you have favorites too. Please send them to me. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. Oh, Heavenly Father, We thank Thee for food and remember the hungry. We thank Thee for health, and remember the sick. We thank Thee for freedom and remember the enslaved. May these remembrances stir us to service, That Thy gifts to us maybe used for others. Amen. My good friend, Fr. Stott, will enjoy my contribution this week from my 1988 Prayer Journal. Al is from Germantown, PA. W. Hamilton Aulenbach (born 1898) was a well know Episcopal Church Rector and a Navy veteran in Pennsylvania. One of the churches he served at, St. Michael's in Germantown, was once described as "Germantown's liveliest church."
Being an old guy myself, I really related to a quotation of his below. Blessings, love, and hugs, Fr. Jack. It's great to be alive at 89! "Lord do deliver me from blinking out my earthly days like a contented toad. Let me find YOUR works forever new, wonderful, challenging. Let me pass on please while I am hepped to the heels over some new project. While I am here let me learn to ignore my creaking body, I'll be so grateful if You'll help me keep my mental motor running." "Those who take refuge in the Lord will be glad; they will sing out their joy forever." (Psalm 5) |