A westward looking panorama of AlbuquerqueDecember 29 2005
Almighty God, the giver of wisdom, without whose help resolutions are vain, without whose blessing study is ineffectual; enable me, if it be your will, to attain such knowledge as may qualify me to direct the doubtful, and instruct the ignorant; to prevent wrongs and terminate contentions; and grant that I may use that knowledge which I shall attain to your glory and my own salvation, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
-Samuel Johnson, English writer and lexicographer
[From The Communion of the Saints: Prayers of the Famous, ed. Horton Davies]
--the BB
6 comments:
Did you know I needed this?
Thank you.
(See my Epiphany resolution(s) post... or perhaps you had.)
I had not idea, of course, but it seems the Spirit knew as I was thumbing through the book last night looking for a prayer.
Love the photo of the tree. Blessings on resolutions.
I seems old Sam was a good pray-er. I visited the pub that he frequented in London at the insistence of our friend, the professor of English. I saw his favorite booth at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. I can't say that I thought the food was great, but it was good to inhabit the same space as Johnson - even centuries later.
Paul, when I first began to read your blog, I did not know that you were a priest. I was a little daunted when I found that out. Would I have left different comments? I don't know. Anyway, now I know.
Oh dear, Mimi, you should never let clerics daunt you. We are a disreputable and fallen lot, full of opinions and even more hot air. Mercifully, God is faithful and uses us from time to time.
I much prefer to think that your comments for me would be the same no matter what. I take it as a compliment that you did not know.
Amen. (I needed that too.)
Well not to sound like copy-cat commenter, but I was flooded with how much I loved the image and then how much I needed the prayer with my new life unfolding before me.
Thank you.
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