You are invited to take some precious time to Meditate, Contemplate, Pray and Recharge
You can also explore a resource of Prayers
To laugh often and much,
to win the respect of intelligent people
and affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life
has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded!
© Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
These verses decorate the wall of Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta, and capture the spirit in which the Missionaries of Charity live their lives. They are believed to be based on a composition originally penned by Kent Keith but have been adapted to reflect a more spiritual dimension.
If you are kind,
people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway!
If you are successful,
you will win some unfaithful friends
and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway!
If you are honest and sincere
people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway!
What you spend years creating,
others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway!
If you find serenity and happiness,
some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway!
The good you do today,
will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway!
Give the best you have,
and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway!
People are often unreasonable,
irrational, and self-centred.
Forgive them anyway!
In the final analysis,
it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway!
Mother Teresa of Calcutta
We extend a special welcome to those who are single, married, divorced, widowed, straight, gay, confused, well-heeled or down-at-heel. We especially welcome wailing babies and excited toddlers.
We welcome you whether you can sing like Pavarotti or just growl quietly to yourself. You’re welcome here if you’re just browsing, just woken up or just got out of prison. We don’t care if you’re more Christian than the Archbishop of Canterbury or haven’t been to church since Christmas 10 years ago.
We extend a special welcome to those who are over 60 but not grown up yet and to teenagers who are growing up too fast. We welcome keep-fit moms, football dads, starving artists, tree huggers, latte sippers, vegetarians, junk food eaters. We welcome those who are in recovery or still addicted. We welcome you if you’re having problems, are down in the dumps or don’t like organised religion. We’re not that keen on it either.
We offer welcome to those who think the Earth is flat, work too hard, don’t work, can’t spell, or are here because Granny is visiting and wanted to come to the cathedral. We welcome those who are inked, pierced, both or neither. We offer a special welcome to those who could use a prayer right now, had religion shoved down their throats as kids or got lost on the Ring Road and wound up here by mistake.
We welcome pilgrims, tourists, seekers, doubters ……and YOU.
© Coventry Anglican Cathedral
Coventry Anglican Cathedral
By DeFacto - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link