Thoughts

The start of stillness is the rejection of all noisiness as something that will trouble the depths of the soul. The final point is when one has no longer a fear of noisy disturbance, when one is immune to it.

He who when he goes out does not go out in his intellect is gentle and wholly a house of love, rarely move to speech and never to anger.

St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, Step 27: On Stillness; Paulist Press pg. 262

TROPARION of the EXALTATION of the Holy CROSS

TROPARION of the EXALTATION of the Holy CROSS;

LORD OUR GOD, your Holy Martyrs EUSTATHIUS and THEOPISTA, AGAPIUS and THEOPISTA have deserved the crown of immortality on account of their good fight.

Armed with your strength, they have vanquished their persecutors and crushed Satan`s dreadful might.

Through their supplications, O Christ God, save our souls!

You walk with me, my God

Even though I walk in the dark valley, I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
(Psalm 23:4)

When I struggle with pain that tortures me,
You walk with me, my God.
When my path is filled with worry and fear,
You walk with me, my God.
When sorrow and regret are haunting me,
You walk with me, my God.
When my life feels overwhelming and threatens to be too much,
You walk with me, my God.
When my time has come and death is waiting for me,
You walk with me, my God.
I count on you to be ever with me.
And so you are.

My body is so tired - Prayer

My body is so tired, my God. It's wearing out. It has served me well, carrying me through this world with great care and service. And now I know that my bones and muscle and all my substance are weakened by the inevitable passage of time.

I thank you for my body, for all that it has done for me in this world. I thank you for all the blessing that have come to me through my senses and physical awareness, for the many things I've seen, touched, and known.

I thank you for the strength I've had, for the ability to work and move and do many of the things I've wanted and chosen to do. I thank you too for play and pleasure, for the enjoyment of so many of your tangible gifts.

I thank you for my ability to think, to reason, to appreciate, to be aware. When my time has come, my loving God, receive me and help me to release my body with gratitude and love. Thank you, God, for my body, wonderfully made and gratefully lived in.