Irish Thoughts from John O'Donohue

I’ve spent much of my free time this week reading and listening to a man named John O’Donohue. He was an Irish Catholic priest for 19 years before leaving the church to study early church fathers and Celtic wisdom to develop a more real relationship with God and with life itself.

For a New Beginning

Awaken your spirit to adventure.
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

John O’Donohue, To Bless This Space Between Us

“Although you should not erase your responsibility for the past, when you make your past your jailer, you destroy your future. It is such a great moment of liberation when you learn to forgive yourself, let the burden go, and walk out into a new path of promise and possibility.” J. O’Donohue, Eternal Echoes.



 "Every day of your life joy is waiting for you, hidden at the heart of the significant things which happen to you or secretly around the corner of quieter things. If your heart loves delight, you will always be able to discover the quiet joy that awaits to shine forth in many situations. Prayer should help us develop the habit of delight. We weight the notion of prayer with burdens of duty, holiness and the struggle for perfection. Prayer should have the freedom of delight. It should arise from and bring us to humour, laughter, and joy. Religion often suffers from a great amnesia; it constantly insists on the seriousness of God and forgets the magic of the divine glory. Prayer should be the wild dance of the heart, too. In the silence of our prayer we should be able to sense the roguish smile of a joyful god who, despite all the chaos and imperfection, ultimately shelters everything." Eternal Echoes - John O'Donohue

While I am not exactly sure what John O’Donohue’s thoughts are I am drawn to the following verses written by a young King David as he was running for his life from his enemies.

" He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 2 Samuel 22:20

“God is my strength and power; He maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hind’s feet and setteth me upon my high places.” 2 Samuel 22:33,34

As for the saints who are in the earth, They are the majestic ones in whom is all my delight. Psalm 16:2

They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. Psalm 36:8

 

Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
Psalm 37:23

A Blessing

May the light of your soul guide you
May the light of your soul bless the work you do with the secret love and warmth of your heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never weary you.
May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you be present in what you do.
May you never become lost in the bland absences.
May the day never burden.
May dawn find you awake and alert, approaching your new day with dreams, possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.
May you go into the night blessed, sheltered and protected.
May your soul calm, console and renew you.

John O'Donohue, Anam Cara

I find these thoughts refreshing in a world where work is all too often reduced to mere functions designed to produce adequate products as efficiently as possible with many compromises to quality. No wonder the younger people in our American workforce only want to give what is required rather than the best they can do. The idea that what we do reflects on our relationship to our Creator and on our own souls is perhaps something we all need to think long and hard about.


And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. Colossians 3:17

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. I Thessalonians 2:11, 12


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