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


© John O’Donohue. All rights reserved  For more information and further reading visit www.johnodonohue.com

Irish Blessing

I've been reading some of the writings and poetry of John O'Donohue. He was an Irish Catholic priest who studied Celtic spirituality and has a unique perspective on spiritual life and thought. I do not always agree with what he has to say but I find that his words require listening and careful thought and as such I value his ideas and his words. All truth is God's truth, no matter where you find it! 

January Sunset

John 15:11 "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

John 16:24 "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." 

 

John 17:13 "These things I speak in the world, that they might hae my joy fulfilled in themselves."

I Peter 1:8 "Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

New Year 2010

"A Morning Wish". .  . W.R. Hunt

"The sun is just rising on the morning of another day, the first day of the new year. What can I wish that this day, that this year, may bring to me?

Nothing that shall make the world of others poorer, nothing at the expense of others; but just those few things which in their coming do not stop with me but touch me rather, as they pass and gather strength:

• A few friends who understand me, and yet remain my friends.
• A work to do which has real value without which the world would feel the poorer.
• A return for such work small enough not to tax unduly anyone who pays.
• A mind unafraid to travel, even though the trail be not blazed.
• An understanding heart.
• A sight of the eternal hills and unbelting sea, and of something beautiful the individual hand has made.
• A sense of humor and the power to laugh.
• A little leisure with nothing to do.
• A few moments of quiet, silent meditation. The sense of the presence of God.
• And the patience to wait for the coming of these things, with the wisdom to know them when they come."

Ice Moving on the Blackfoot River

"Contemplating the lace-like fabric of streams outspread over the mountains, we are reminded that everything is flowing - going somewhere, animals and so-called lifeless rocks as well as water. Thus the snow flows fast or slow in grand beauty - making glaciers and avalanches; the air in majestic floods carrying minerals, plant leaves, seeds, spores, with streams of music and fragrance; water streams carrying rocks both in solution and in the form of mud particles, sand, pebbles, and boulders. Rocks flow from volcanoes like water from springs, and animals flock together and flow in currents modified by stepping, leaping, gliding, flying, swimming, etc. While stars go streaming through space pulsed on and on forever like blood globules in Nature's warm heart. . . Nature is a flood and we all are in it." John Muir

The Pursuit of God

"The Lord of all being is far more than the Lord of all beings. He is the Lord of all actual existence. He is the Lord of all kinds of beings - spiritual being, natural being, physical being. Therefore, when we rightly worship Him we we compass all being." A. W. Tozer

"When religion has said its last word, there is little that we need other than God Himself." A. W. Tozer

"The impulse to pursue God originates with God, but the outworking of that impulse is our "following hard after" Him." A. W. Tozer

"All the time we are pursuing Him we are already in His hand, "Thy right hand upholdeth me." A. W. Tozer

Mountain Biking the Slickrock Trail near Moab, Utah