Tags
awareness, benevolence, character, divine power, friend, home, honesty, Hurricane Maria, inner strength, lost everything, Meg Wheatley, mindfulness, miracles, parents, perseverance, right action, Samurai, The Sophia Center for Spirituality
Thinking about the situation of those in the path today of Hurricane Maria, people who will be blasted for the second time in two weeks by devastation, I picked up Meg Wheatley’s book, Perseverance, since there is nothing I can say of any relevance on my own. What I found was a quote from a 14th century Japanese Samurai Warrior. It was not what I was looking for but did make me think. What if it seemed I had lost everything? I mused. What would be left that would make me refuse to lie down and die? The answer focused on inner strength and so I repeat it here as a hope for those whose lives seem empty at this moment and a way to consider hope when all outer hope is gone.
- I have no parents: I make the heavens and earth my parents.
- I have no home: I make awareness my home.
- I have no divine power: I make honesty my divine power.
- I have no means: I make understanding my means.
- I have no magic secrets: I make character my magic secrets.
- I have no miracles: I make right action my miracles.
- I have no friends: I make my mind my friend.
- I have no enemy: I make carelessness my enemy.
- I have no armor: I make benevolence and righteousness my armor.
Think on these things and then, perhaps, create your own list of your inner strengths.
The Sophia Center for Spirituality 
I have no righteousness of my own; I claim the righteousness of Jesus as the center of my being and my hope forever.
Good afternoon, For some reason, I missed this posting. I have been praying for the refugees and their plight. I have been praying for those who have been victims of recent hurricanes . I have been praying for those who have been trafficked. I have been praying for those considering suicide as an answer.
Your post from this samurai, has helped me in my pondering. Inner strength is a skill to be learned and practiced. May I be a light that helps others to see that inner strength, a witness to GOD’s light and love within and surrounding me. As you have been and remain for me.
Theresa White Associate Director of Faith Formation 315.472.6753 Office 315.382.5341 Cell 240 East Onondaga St, Syracuse, NY 13202 twhite@syrdio.org *Ask me about The Heart of the Catechist & Echoes of Faith* *Faith formation is lifelong and ongoing!* * wrfaithformation.org * * faithformationevents.weebly.com *
* rcfaithquest.syrdio.org *
On Wed, Sep 20, 2017 at 8:07 AM, The Sophia Center for Spirituality wrote:
> thesophiacenterforspirituality posted: “Thinking about the situation of > those in the path today of Hurricane Maria, people who will be blasted for > the second time in two weeks by devastation, I picked up Meg Wheatley’s > book, Perseverance, since there is nothing I can say of any relevance on my > ” >