I have learned to be content with whatever I have.
Philippians 4:11
Praise is inner health made audible.
C.S. Lewis
If anyone should tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness, all perfection, he would tell you to make a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything that happens to you, and it is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you, if you thank God for it, you turn it into a blessing. Could you therefore work miracles, you could not do more for yourself than by this thankful Spirit, for it heals with a word spoken, and turns all that it touches into happiness.
William Law
Image: Paysage Tourmente, Macha Chmakoff
I am not made or unmade by what happens to me,
but by my attitude to what happens to me.
St. John of the Cross
I am so poised that I do not cling to any created thing as though it were my ultimate good.
Ignatius of Loyola
How attractive is the freedom which is “content with whatever I have”? This is the way of detachment (poise) or freedom.
Take some time out and ask:
If I had a choice, would I ask to change the circumstances of my life
or to change the way I look at them?
Begin to see how attractive and free it is if I can look at my circumstances
(whatever they are) differently.
Of course there are things we can change, and must try to do so. But in those things which seemingly don’t or won’t change – can I see God inviting me to see things differently – with a new freedom and sense of purpose – which will lead to praise and gratitude?
The images in this post are oil paintings by the French artist Macha Chmakoff. She is well known for her landscape paintings and in this post we see he capacity to view the same landscape through different eyes, passing from the Paysage Tourmente (Tormented Landscape) to ever increasingly luminous view of the Chemin de St Jacques (Pathway of St James, also known as the Camino de Santiago).
To accompany you on your journey we hope you also enjoy this beautiful rendition of May It Be, composed by Enya for The Lord of the Rings.
May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh, how far you are from home
Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now
May it be the shadow’s call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun
Mornië utúlië
Believe and you will find your way
Mornië alantië
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now
For a printable PDF of the text of this meditation please click on the link below.
