that if one advances confidently
in the direction of his dreams,
and endeavors to live the life
which he has imagined,
he will meet with a success
unexpected in common hours.
—Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854
— 11 —
Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water
When trouble is close at hand.
Your Word will be a lamp for me,
a guide to light my way,
a solid place to set my feet,
a compass when I stray.
May I live my life to praise You,
not for fortune, nor for fame,
may everything I say and do
bring glory to Your name.
May my eyes stay fixed upon You
as I seek the way that’s pure,
tasting Your love and goodness
sleeping and rising secure.
Planted by Your living streams
I’ll delight in all Your ways,
hidden by Your sheltering wings
with new mercies for each day.
Even in a dangerous land
when storms threaten to destroy,
at the cross I’ll stand upon the Rock
my Strength, my Hope, my Joy.
Dear Lord, show me Your favor,
at all times keep me blessed,
may Your face ever shine upon me,
with peace and perfect rest. Amen.
—Mary Fairchild
— 12 —
Stronger than the Storm Within Me
I will trust in the
darkness and know that my
times, even now, are in Your
hand. Tune my spirit to the
music of heaven, and
somehow, make my
obedience count for You.
—The Prayer of Saint Brendan
— 13 —
Find Refuge Here
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
—Psalm 91:1–16
— 14 —
Live with an Open Heart
Dance, when you’re broken open.
Dance, if you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of the fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance, when you’re perfectly free.
—Rumi, 13th century Persian poet
— 15 —
Fret Not
Don’t worry,
be happy!
—Meher Baba
— 16 —
Becoming Your Best You
Close your eyes
and imagine the best
version of you possible.
That’s who you really are.
Let go of any part of you
that doesn’t believe it.
—C. Assaid
— 17 —
Take Time to Heal
To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal…
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance…
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
—Ecclesiastes 3:1–8
— 18 —
You’re Braver Than You Know
Promise me you’ll always remember:
you’re braver than you believe,
and stronger than you seem,
and smarter than you think.
—Christopher Robin to Pooh, A.A. Milne
— 19 —
What You Can Rise From
You may encounter many defeats,
but you must not be defeated.
In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats,
so you can know who you are,
what you can rise from,
how you can still come out of it.
—Maya Angelou
— 20 —
Wisdom Untangles the Mind
The Tao is wisdom eternally