Last Sunday, I heard two beautiful quotes, the first one at Mass and the other at yoga.
1) Father talked about Bible verse John 15 during his homily:
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
To me, this verse says we all have many talents and abilities, but only those that will do the greatest good will become the strongest. I think of the "pruning" as a team effort between God and I: I get to choose what I like best and he'll shape my life so that I don't spend time and energy on the useless "branches."
2) Then, At Yoga Oasis, the teacher quoted Saint Terese of Liseaux:
“May today there be peace within. May you trust that you are exactly
where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities
that are born of faith in yourself and others. May you use the gifts
that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content with yourself just the way you are. Let this
knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to
sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us."
Hearing this quote right after the first one really brought a sense of calm to my soul. It made me realize that in our lives, we have what we need and it is enough to achieve our own greatness. This sequence of events only confirms in my mind that God and yoga are both great things...and a powerful combination :).
Amy, I love the two quotes you included in this posting, especially the one from St. Therese. It reminds me of a poem I heard a couple of years ago by that has stayed with me. I hope you enjoy it too...
ReplyDeletePatient Trust
By Pierre Teilhard De Chardin
Above all, trust in the slow work of God
We are quite naturally impatient in everything
to reach the end without delay.
We should like to skip the intermediate stages.
We are impatient of being on the way to something
unknown, something new.
And yet it is the law of progress
that it is made by passing through
some states of instability ---
and that it may take a very long time.
And so I think it is with you.
Your ideas mature gradually --- let them grow,
let them shape themselves, without undue haste.
Don't try to force them on,
as though you could be today what time
(that is to say, grace and circumstances
acting on your own good will)
will make of you tomorrow.
Only God could say what this new spirit
gradually forming within you will be.
Give Our Lord the benefit of believing
that his hand is leading you,
and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself
in suspense and incomplete.