WORDS FOR LIFE

in #spiritual7 years ago (edited)

Every once in a while a seemingly beautiful life starts spiraling out of control. Questions are asked, no answers are often found and you find yourself between rocks and hard places. These are times when each person turns to something, be it their god or their mantra. I have this beautiful poem in my office. I refer to it often and I have shared it often. It has been a part of my life for over twenty years. Somehow it never grows old and each year I find new meaning hidden in its shadows. I hope you love it too.

DESIDERATA -

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Souce: All poetry.com
Max Ehrmann

Source: Google Images

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I have always loved this poem. I did this one in crewel embroidery and had it framed. There is another poem Desiderata II, written in 1956, by Reverend Frederick Kates, the rector of St. Paul's Church in Baltimore, Maryland. He used the poem a collection of mimeographed inspirational material for his congregation. (Public Domain)

In whatever religion you have been taught, however, you have been brought up, and however, you have understood your teachers . . . on these levels, you will understand and grasp this message. It is not enough that this message is believed. It is a message to be lived.

The essence of Universal Religion in Peace and Truth, with Love for and Kindness to all of the creatures of the earth. Now is the time to express this essence in your own life. a beginning must be made, and the place to begin is with and in yourself.

Would you reform the world? Begin with yourself, brother! The message of the unreformed reformer seldom inspires reformation.

The heart of all religion is love. And righteousness, which is love in action, is the fulfilment of Religion. Love not only family and friends! — for love limited is love denied.

Seek peace within yourself and seek, too, within yourself the Divine Breath of Life.

Persist in these things! Do not let up for a single moment! Through your faith and through your deeds you shape your life and help shape the lives of others, as well. What a responsibility!

The spirit finds in you its agent and also its partner, and to the degree that you are aware of this and act on it, your life is enriched.

A revelation will occur to you . . . a revelation higher than your most exalted dreams.

The New Age is coming, and in it there will be a realization of the Oneness of all. Differences between the various Religions will disappear. The good, which is in each of them, will be fused and will become the common goal of all mankind. Know that you have the power to choose! Choose love, not hate; choose gentleness, not violence; choose holiness, not evil.

Dare to believe that the Reign of Love and Peace is coming soon! Ready yourself for it! Ready yourself for it with deeds of righteousness! Righteousness is the door-opener, and beyond the door is love.

May power divine enter every aspect of your life endowing it with the rewards of material accomplishments, the treasures of purposeful existence, and the eternal light of spiritual achievement!

Wow 💜💙
What an awesome follow-up poem! Thanks for sharing @cecicastor

Thank you I love what you sent. Very empowering.

Such a beautiful piece! I am following you:)

Thank you and I you

Aww! This is so beautiful! I love sharing poems in class. I will share this one 💜
And, this pic at the bottom!! Wow it's awesome. Love the boat, the water and the beauuuutiful colored flowers!
Thank-you!

Thank you so much. I didn't know we were in class? Hee...however, I love this course we are on. The picture at the bottom is St. Margaret's Bay here in Nova Scotia. The flowers are Lupins and they grow here all over the Province like crazy in late Spring and early Summer. They are so beautiful. The Sailboat is my dream.

😊 my communcation was vague sry about that! I teach yoga classes! I like sharing poems in them. I actually have Nova Scotia lupin seeds in my seed bucket!! @lyndsaybowes sent them fall before last. I didn't get to planting them at the farm yard i was living at. Hoping i will find somewhere to seed bomb them soon! They're gorgeous!!!!!

Love your sailboat dream 👍💙

Thank you for this offering, it was really quite comforting to me in this moment. My birth midwifery has morphed into transition midwifery as the years have passed. This week I spent my days and nights sitting with my friend/sister as she is battling and/or surrendering to stage IV ovarian/peritoneal cancer. Really cool to see something in my Steem feed that touched me in ways that I need to be touched and felt. <3

So glad I was able to share this with you in this difficult journey you are on. I have several challenges I am now facing and I thought it was time to bring this poem around to myself again. Blessing to you and your family.

What a beautiful poem. This makes me think of one of my favourite bits of an Emily Dickenson poem (t'is so much joy):

Life is but life, and death but death!
Bliss is but bliss, and breath but breath!
And if, indeed, I fail,
At least to know the worst is sweet.
Defeat means nothing but defeat,
No drearier can prevail!

A Book -

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
Emily Dickinson