:: sweettalk ::

:: Friday, January 16, 2004 ::

gifts

God, I offer myself to Thee to build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self that I may better do Thy Will. Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life. May I do Thy Will always.

Oh, that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would always be with me, and that You would keep me from evil.

Thank You for keeping me sober today. Amen.

The great gifts are not got by analysis. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Experience,” Essays, Second Series

The richest gifts we can bestow are the least marketable. We hate the kindness which we understand. -- Henry David Thoreau, Letter, February 12, 1843, to Ralph Waldo Emerson, in The Writings of Henry David Thoreau

... the highest gifts are not measurable in dollars and cents. Beyond and above the class who run an account with the world and merely manage honestly to pay in kind for what they receive, there is a noble army—the Shakespeares and Miltons, the Newtons, Galileos and Darwins,—Watts, Morse, Howe, Lincoln, Garrison, John Brown—a part of the world’s roll of honor—whose price of board and keep dwindles into nothingness when compared with what the world owes them; men who have taken of the world’s bread and paid for it in immortal thoughts, invaluable inventions, new facilities, heroic deeds of loving self-sacrifice; men who dignify the world for their having lived in it and to whom the world will ever bow in grateful worship as its heroes and benefactors. It may not be ours to stamp our genius in enduring characters—but we can give what we are at its best. -- Anna Julia Cooper, A Voice from the South

Yesterday was a pretty good day, too. I finished up the A/P reconciliation through November and December although I screwed up somewhere and uncleared half a cleared transaction, so it took a while to figure out where. Today I'm going to begin looking at some of the other affected accounts, and they've asked me to stay through Tuesday.

I got some money deposited at the bank and came home after work to read the remainder of Came to Believe before the Rebellion Dogs met at Dan's place. It was a good meeting, and I'm glad we've finally finished the book. Last night's chapter was titled "In All Our Affairs", and it really caused me to realize that what I see as a dark period of my life a few years ago gave me some incredible gifts I would likely never have received otherwise -- believing, solitude, health, willingness. Next we're going to re-read the first 164 pages of the Big Book again.

I had expected to here from Joe last night, but he got home late from dinner with his friends. This morning I received an email in which he said he was already booked until Sunday. I replied to his other comments but also told him that I have tentative plans on Sunday and that I have reservations about his reservations. When he's ready and less gunshy and has more time, he's welcome to contact me. In the meantime, it seems more difficult than it should be to get together. I feel angry for some reason, and I don't like that, but this too shall pass.

:: Kyle 6:37 AM 0 comments
...

0 Comments:

Post a Comment