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May I Choose...

February 15, 2008

susan_preston_choosePeace.jpg

Blown Away ~ Canon 30d

Where there is hatred, may i choose love
where there is doubt, may i choose faith
where there is despair, may i choose hope
where there is darkness, may i choose light
and where there is sadness, may i choose joy


And with these words i speak
Grant that i may not so seek
To be heard but to hear
To be consoled but to console,
Not to be seen, but to see
To be loved but to love
For when we give love we will receive


For it is in giving that we receive
it is in pardoning we'll are pardoned
and it is in dying we will be released


When we forgive love, we’ll find reprieve
It is in dying we’ll be released
Make me an instrument of peace


I hope St. Francis will forgive me for taking some liberty with his prayer. It's with a tweensey bit of hesitation I do so, for I hold both him and his words in the highest esteem. In the traditional version he asks to bring peace, but this morning I'm thinking I need to choose it. Semantics? Perhaps. But nothing happens without first dreaming it and then choosing it.

The Dalai Lama has said many times he'd prefer everyone to stay where they are – not to leave the faith in which one was originally rooted. Better to allow the practice of mindfulness to enrich and water the seeds of faith already planted within us. The moment I fell in love with the Dalai Lama was when I heard someone recount his idea that no one should become a Buddhist unless they just couldn't help themselves from doing so. Religious market share isn't a priority for him, but peace is. I marvel at the circular nature of the path I've taken, weaving that which I walked away from, my christian roots, back into my heart with the loom of lovingkindness practice. I've no idea if this makes any sense to my readers, but it makes perfect sense to me. There are masters of mysticism to be found in every tradition: Rumi, St. Francis, Hafiz, Buddha, Milarepa, St. Teresa... Mary Oliver.

Try something for me. Take breath and open your heart. Tap into your highest energy. Now, take your time and fill in the blanks.

If I could have any super hero power, it would be __________.

or, this one...

I wish to be an instrument of __________.


What was the first thing that came into your mind? Hold that in the palm of your hand in the coming week. Meditate on it. It could be your true calling, your life's purpose, not to mention your true bliss.


Posted by susan at February 15, 2008 09:02 AM

Comments

definitely going to ponder those two..

i have a fabulous book of poetry called love poems from god which combines the poetry of both eastern and western mystics. i love it.

Posted by: la vie en rose at February 15, 2008 05:42 PM

I loved this post and so needed this today. It has been a rough week. I had never heard this before but really agree with the Dali Lama. Thanks for sharing it.

Posted by: yolanda at February 15, 2008 07:06 PM

Beautiful, beautiful thoughts Susan.

Posted by: jayne at February 16, 2008 07:01 AM

God and Love. I am sure St. Francis is not turning over in his grave. Lovely words of peace and love for all. It was good to read those words again. Words we should utter each and every day.

Posted by: janet at February 16, 2008 01:24 PM

I don't think St. Francis would mind, and I have always loved this. The picture is fitting.

Posted by: Kirsten at February 17, 2008 09:49 PM

About 11 years ago a friend disowned me for religious reasons, and at time I developed a deep despair over the gulf religion puts between people. Thank you Susan, for sharing the quote from the Dalai Lama, and your own thoughts. I agree with the other posts above about the St. Francis prayer and your "modification."

Posted by: Phil at February 18, 2008 12:16 AM