#persevere

[mothmonarch]

[blabbershere]

You will either be the villain in someone else's story for standing up for yourself — or a fool in yours if you don't. Pick your poison.

— Samira Vivette

[alwaysrememberjesus]

Keep Going

[dk-thrive]

More and more I have come to admire resilience.  Not the simple resistance of a pillow, whose foam returns over and over to the same shape, but the sinuous tenacity of a tree: finding the light newly blocked on one side, it turns in another. A blind intelligence, true.  But out of such persistence arose turtles, rivers, mitochondria, figs—all this resinous, unretractable earth.

— Jane Hirshfield, "Optimism" in Each Happiness Ringed by Lions: Selected Poems (Bloodaxe Books, 2005) (via The Hammock Papers)

[momentsbeforemass]

Prayer isn’t a performance

(for someone who’s struggling in prayer)

One of the promises you make at Ordination is to pray the Divine Office. Morning prayer and evening prayer. Every day.

If you’ve tried to do it, you know that some days are easier than others. Some days it just flows. Other times, not so much.

There are distractions. Intrusive thoughts. All kinds of things can turn quiet time with God into anything but.

The best part? Even when it’s not easy, or even particularly coherent, God is listening, taking it all in. None of it is ever lost or unheard.

Just as important? What God is not doing.

God’s not evaluating our prayers, figuring out whether they’re worth His time. God doesn’t grade our prayers. God has never said to anyone after prayer,

“That was a mess. Truly one of your worst. You were all over the map. Half the time, you were distracted.

When you weren’t, it was all about you. And all the stuff you’ve got going on.

Really, it doesn’t even deserve a response.

But, because I’m Me, I’ll meet you halfway. I’ll give you 50% of my love, some of my grace, part of what you need.

Next time, pray better.”

God isn’t looking for perfection. Because prayer isn’t a performance.

Prayer is all about talking with God. Drawing closer to God. Being with God.

What God really wants is for us to persevere in prayer.

Even if we’re distracted. Or if we don’t feel God’s presence right now. For us to keep trying.

Even when it’s not easy. For us to keep coming back to God.

To persevere in prayer. Until our hearts rest in Him.

Until we are able to receive 100% of His love, all of His grace, and everything we need.

Today’s Readings

[karisumawrites]

The choice is ours. Our situation today may not be something we like or hope for, but I believe God is cooking something to shape us to be the person He wants us to be. If only we let the Spirit of God work in us, we'll cultivate love, peace, kindness, and generosity in every facet of our life. - Elle Z. S.

[jade-mythriil]

I never expected anyone to send me art of my character! This is an awesome surprise gift art I got from u/sparkysora on reddit. I can't thank them enough for it!

[espiritogato]

The past is the past.

The things that broke me then no longer has power over me.

[credits-roll]

Translation: https://doolsetbangtan.wordpress.com/2022/12/05/no-2/

[wordsofwisdomandsoul]

[aislingstorm]

“Don’t give up,” “persevere to the end,” “always finish what you start,” “quitters never win,” are all well meaning phrases meant to encourage.

But the truth is, the wisest of souls who find success know that knowing when to quit is just as important as knowing when to persevere.

Be wise, ya’ll. 🫶

[in-tenebris-et-in-solitudine]

[the-ephemeral-ethereal]

Nothing can be achieved without perseverance.

from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1931-1932)

[feral-ferrule]

[dk-thrive]

The wind will rattle the canvas; the moon and sun will blaze through the dome. And I will be as a mountain, slicing through the clouds; let the weather come, and come. I will stand.

— Alexandra Fuller, Fi: A Memoir of My Son (Grove Press, April 9, 2024)

[donclairenf]

“Be excellent at your basics then exceed expectations”