QUESTION?

Who am I?  Where did I come from?

ANSWER

“You are a child of the Universe, no less than the moon and the stars; you have a right to be here” – Max Ehrmann

We are all so much more than we think we are!

Do you remember the wonderful words from “Desiderata”?

“You are a child of the universe, no less than the moon and the stars; you have a right to be here”

Isn’t that wonderful?  We are stardust, we are miracles, we are miraculous human beings.  It is so easy to forget that in the hurly burly of everyday life.  We are so busy being humans doing that we forget that above all else we are human beings.  Let’s take time to remember that today.  Let us take some time to dig down deep and remember what it is about each of us that makes us unique, makes us uniquely human, uniquely ourselves.

No-one else has our own unique gifts and talents, no-one else can offer what we uniquely can to the world.  I wrote “MIRACLES” to remind myself of that.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

• Will you take some time today to remind yourself of your unique gifts and talents?
• What will you do today to honour those gifts, those wonderful talents?
• What can you share that might be of help to others?

Please leave your comments.  I would love to hear from you.

Corinne

POEM FOR TODAY

MIRACLES

It always is a miracle when we dig deep inside

And discover something we’d forgotten now fills us with pride,

As we chance on some sweet talent lying dormant through the years

Resurrected from the debris and now shyly reappears.

Maybe something stirs from childhood when we naturally did

Such a host of little miracles which age has sadly hid,

Maybe adolescence saw us cavalierly toss away

Our own special gifts and talents, then say life got in the way.

But the best thing about talent is it’s always waiting there

Though rejected and neglected it just doesn’t seem to care,

It will rest until we’re ready and respond straight to our call,

No, it never goes away the greatest miracle of all.

© Corinne Shields, 2013

If you enjoyed “MIRACLES” please pass it on.  You can find more inspirational poetry in

“A String of Pearls, a Yearbook of Daily Inspiration to Soothe the Soul and Rekindle the Spirit”

And no retreat would be complete without something lovely to look at, so here’s the

PICTURE FOR TODAY

Into the blue

And just before you go ……..

Take what you like and leave the rest!!!

In my view, Desiderata is one of the most magnificent poems that has ever been written.  I am sure that countless millions have found comfort and inspiration in its words.  It has been a wonderful friend to me in my life.

The common myth is that the Desiderata poem was found in a Baltimore church in 1692 and is centuries old, of unknown origin. Desiderata was in fact written around 1920 (although some say as early as 1906), and certainly copyrighted in 1927, by lawyer Max Ehrmann (1872-1945) based in Terre Haute, Indiana. The Desiderata myth began after Reverend Frederick Kates reproduced the Desiderata poem in a collection of inspirational works for his congregation in 1959 on church notepaper, headed: ‘The Old St Paul’s Church, Baltimore, AD 1692′ (the year the church was founded). Copies of the Desiderata page were circulated among friends, and the myth grew, accelerated particularly when a copy of the erroneously attributed Desiderata was found at the bedside of deceased Democratic politician Aidlai Stevenson in 1965.

Whatever the history of Desiderata, the Ehrmann’s prose is inspirational, and offers a simple positive credo for life.

For those of you who don’t know it, enjoy, for those of you who do, remember!!

Desiderata – Max Ehrmann

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 to 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 perennial as the grass.

Take kindly to 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 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 in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Isn’t that wonderful?

If you have read this far please leave a comment, share an opinion or leave a favourite quotation on the Inspirational Quotes page for others to enjoy.

May we all be peaceful and at ease.

Have a good day.

Corinne