There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it.
Years ago I overhead a conversation while in a dressing room in a department store. A grandmother and her young granddaughter were in the stall next to mine.
Girl: "Grandma, I can say the Lord's Prayer! Do you want to hear it?"
Grandma: "Oh my! Why yes, I do!"
Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Grandma: "Oh my pretty little precious baby! MmmMmmMmm"
Girl: "I learned that in Sunday School."
Grandma: "Always keep a prayer on your lips, Child."
Though I never spoke with them or even saw their faces, their conversation about prayer has stuck with me. I've often told my own children "Always keep a prayer on your lips." It's some of the best advice I can give. When a prayer is on our lips it's nearly impossible to fall into mischief!
When he had failed in his duty [Brother Lawrence] only confessed his fault, saying to God, I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself; it is You who must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss. After this, he gave himself no further uneasiness about it.
How do we pray continually?
In order to form a habit of conversing with God continually, and referring all we do to Him we must at first apply to Him with some diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty.
We ought to act with God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs, just as they happen.
Our only business [is] to love and delight ourselves in God.
We ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in God, and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would not deceive us.
I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. Psalm 16:7-9
What advice, insights, or special memories can you share with me about prayer?
Just a quick postcard today -- I've much to share with you and very little time to do so right now! Soon I'll post some pictures and thoughts about the spring silent retreat I took last weekend. I just finished readingBird by Bird: Some Thoughts on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott and The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence.
Two of my blog friends have posted the Liebster Award posts I nominated them for last month. I know you will enjoy reading their answers to my eleven questions.
My children are excited about summer break starting in a few weeks. I'm working hard to overhaul the house so we'll have as much time as possible to play together this summer. My hands are flying! Brother Lawrence reminded me that this is my opportunity to commune with God in an intimate manner. As I busy myself with my humble domestic duties, God is near.
Lately I've been getting to know the poetry of Mary Oliver. I'm really enjoying what I've found so far.
Today I was very excited to discover she wrote a poem about my favorite flower!
Peonies by Mary Oliver This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready to break my heart as the sun rises, as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers
and they open-- pools of lace, white and pink-- and all day the black ants climb over them, boring their deep and mysterious holes into the curls, craving the sweet sap, taking it away to their dark, underground cities-- and all day under the shifty wind, as in a dance to the great wedding,
the flowers bend their bright bodies, and tip their fragrance to the air, and rise, their red stems holding all that dampness and recklessness gladly and lightly, and there it is again-- beauty the brave, the exemplary,
blazing open. Do you love this world? Do you cherish your humble and silky life? Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath? Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden, and softly, and exclaiming of their dearness, fill your arms with the white and pink flowers, with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling, their eagerness to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are nothing, forever?
I had another opportunity to create another video for you last night. I hope this passage will help to calm and restore your spirit for the week ahead.
Pride imitates what is lofty; but you alone are God most high above all things. What does ambition seek but honor and glory? Yet you alone are worthy of honor and are glorious for eternity. The cruelty of powerful people aims to arouse fear. Who is to be feared but God alone? What can be seized or stolen from his power? When or where or how or by whom? Soft endearments are intended to arouse love. But there are no caresses tenderer than you charity, and no object of love is more healthy than your truth, beautiful and luminous beyond all things. Curiosity appears to be a zeal for knowledge; yet you supremely know all. Ignorance and stupidity are given the names of simplicity and innocence; but there is no greater simplicity than in you. And what greater innocence than yours, whereas to evil men their own works are damaging? Idleness appears as desire for a quiet life; yet can rest be assured apart from the Lord? Luxury wants to be called abundance and satiety; but you are fullness and the inexhaustible treasure of incorruptible pleasure. Prodigality presents itself under the shadow of generosity; but you are the rich bestower of all good things. Avarice wishes to have large possessions; you possess everything. Envy contends about excellence; but what is more excellent than you? Anger seeks revenge; who avenges with greater justice than you? Fear quails before sudden and unexpected events attacking things which are loved, and takes precautions for their safety; to you is anything unexpected or sudden? Or who can take away from you what you love? There is no reliable security except with you. Regret wastes away for the loss of things which cupidity delighted in. Its wish would be that nothing be taken away, just as nothing can be taken from you.
Ruth at A Great Book Study has nominated my blog for the Liebster Award! Thank you so much, Ruth! I love your wise insights about the classics and life and I'm grateful for your friendship and encouragement.
The Liebster Award is a way of spreading the word about blogs in the vast community of book bloggers. It's somewhat like a chain letter or a slam book, but a lot more fun.
The Rules:
*Thank the blogger that nominated you and link back to their blog.
*Display the award somewhere on your blog.
*List 11 facts about yourself.
*Answer 11 questions chosen by the blogger who nominated you.
*Come up with 11 questions to ask your nominees.
*Nominate 5-11 blogs that you think deserve the award and who have less than 1,000 followers.
*You may nominate blogs that have already received the award, but you cannot re-nominate the blog that nominated you.)
*Go to their blog and inform them that they've been nominated.
Eleven Random Facts About Me:
(I've tried to list things I've never shared on this blog before.)
1. My middle name is the title of a Beatles song.
2. I can touch the tip of my nose with the tip of my tongue. (Of my five kids, only one has inherited this unique gift. He's very proud of it!)
3. I was a Bicentennial Baby.
4.When I was born lots of friends and family gave me commemorative bicentennial dollars. I cashed them in when I was seven to buy my first piano.
5. One of my dreams is to become a Tricentennial Lady in 2076.
6. I'm an INFP in the Meyers Briggs Personality Indicator. My type is known as "The Idealist" or "The Healer."
7. Many people -- even some people I've known my whole life -- mispronounce my name. This doesn't bother me, though. Here are some of the names I often answer to: "Andrea," "Andreanna," "Adri-ON-ah," "Yo Adrian!," "A," "Adri," "Adee-anne," "Adranna," "Drannie," and "Miss A."
Vince Gill gets it right:
8. When I was four I met my great-great-grandmother before she died. She asked me to pray for her, so I knelt beside her chair and said a little prayer.
9. My husband taught me how to change a diaper. (I think I have a little more experience than he does now!)
10. Last summer I found the grave of my mother's mother's mother's mother's mother.
11. Today is my birthday. I'm 38.
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1. Share a favorite quote from a book or author.
Who is to be feared but God alone? What can be seized or stolen from His power? Soft endearments are intended to arouse love. But there are no caresses tenderer than Your charity, And no object of love is more healthy than Your truth, Beautiful and luminous beyond all things. ~Confessions of St. Augustine
2. Is there a book you have disliked immensely?
Which one, and why?
If you mean titles on the WEM list, then no. I've liked some much more than others, but I haven't felt immense dislike for any of them yet.
How and when I read a classic can affect the enjoyment factor for me. I did not enjoy Don Quixotebecause I read it before I discovered blogging! I think I might have enjoyed it if I had had some friends to joke about it with. I read it alone during the winter while living in a basement apartment with two babies who were fourteen months apart. It nearly drove me crazy!
Half way through The Book of Margery Kempe, I started feeling exhausted and constantly nauseated. A surprise pregnancy helped me develop a keen sense of empathy for the physical travails of medieval women!
3. Why did you start blogging? Has your purpose changed? How did you come up with the name for your blog? I started Classical Quest to help me process life. Writing in a journal is not enough -- I need conversation! I need to take in many perspectives. The blogosphere is my classroom. I get lots of encouragement, accountability, and even some push back now and then. This feeds me. Has your purpose changed? No, but I think my tone has changed! In the beginning, I probably came across as more of a teacher and now I think I sound more like a student. I have less answers and more questions. At the same time blogging is helping me develop the courage to be authentic. I've crossed through some barriers lately by writing about subjects I was too timid to breach previously. When I was young there were people who warned me that receiving an education would make me "wishy-washy" and "too broad-minded." Instead I think it's stripping me of pride. Albert Einstein said it best: "The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don't know." How did you come up with the name for your blog? I came up with "Classical Quest" in about two minutes. I was shocked it wasn't already taken! I've always loved the idea of a "quest." When I was a little girl, I had a swing set in my back yard. I would often hop on the two-seated face-to-face glider (sometimes with a friend; sometimes alone) and go on long journeys to far away places. I really don't like to hurry! I like to spend time savoring things. This blog is all about the journey. I keep making new lists in addition toWEM, so there's really no end in sight for me!
4. Have you ever counted how many books you own? If not, estimate. Estimate??? You mean use math?!
5. Which author have you read the most? Laura Ingalls Wilder
6. Which book have you reread the most?
The Psalms
7. Do you have a memorable childhood book? Yes. I remember being very proud of myself for reading Sam and the Firefly by P.D. Eastman all by myself.
8. Have you ever imagined an actor/actress to play a character in a book you were reading? (For example, I always thought Sharon Stone would make a great Dominique Francon in the Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.) Wow. I don't think I've ever done that! Sounds like a fun idea, though. Off the top of my head, I think George Clooney would make a great Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind.
9. Is there a book you would like to see in film version, permitting they kept it true to the book.
10. Name a character from classic lit that you would love to be neighbors with. Hester Prynne. We both like needlework; we both like living on the outskirts of town. I admire the way she overcame her social stigma. I think we would benefit from each other's company and perhaps become great friends. Plus, my kids would love to play with her daughter Pearl.
11. What book are you avoiding, and why?
The next book on the WEM list, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I'm avoiding it because I've seen the movie (Robert Redford version) and I didn't care for it at all. Plus, I'm a little weary of high-society novels at the moment. A few friends I admire have listed Gatsby as one of their favorites, so I'm sure I'll read it eventually.
While I'm on this subject I might as well tell you, I've decided to take a break from the novel list for a while. I've come to realize that I really need to be in sync with my friends at A Classic Case of Madness in order to get the most out of my reading. I miss hanging out in the blogosphere with them, making up silly ditties about our reading. So I'm going to coast for a few months -- just read whatever I want and try to write some blog posts about the great books I've read over the past year. When CCOM starts the Autobiography List I'll be leaning forward on the front row with notebook and pencil in hand.
I nominated these great bloggers for the Liebster Award:
