“The greatest test of courage
on earth is to bear defeat without
loosing heart.” R.G. Ingersoll
“It takes more courage than we imagine to be perfectly simple with other men. Our frankness is often spoiled by a hidden barbarity, born of fear.
False sincerity has much to say, because it is afraid. True candor can afford to be silent. It does not need to face an anticipated attack. Anything it may have to defend can be defended with perfect simplicity.”
— Thomas Merton. No Man is an Island
This quote from Thomas Merton that came today reminds me how hard it is be truly simple and silent in today’s complex and noisy culture. Simplicity is probably why I am so attracted to the quotes form Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, Gandhi, and various others that I get. Also the picture quotes, combining a good quote with a picture are becoming important to my daily reflection.
Working in the garden is like hearing a good quote. The work is reflective and focused. The many distractions of life disappeared while working in the garden. Today the time I went out to the garden, around noon, it started to rain and has been raining on and off since.
I got a late start on the garden due, in part, to three prayer services for homicide victims this morning. Our simple prayer vigils in some sad way are meaningful. One of the three prayer services today was for a one year child. Her mother and two young cousins came. The young children did not say anything but in their simple way were aware of why we were there.
At another homicide prayer service there was a young man who had witnessed the killing. He himself had been shot in the heart in a senseless act of violence but had somehow miraculously survived. His near death experience gave him compassion for the victim of the murder in front of his house.
I called one of my friends who regularly comes to these prayer services but due to sickness was not there. She has a long history of many illnesses and like one other of my other friends is in constant pain. How these two women, younger than me, have the courage to live each day is beyond understanding.
Yes, it takes courage to be simple.
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