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
Did you know I needed this?
ReplyDeleteThank 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.
ReplyDeleteLove 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.
ReplyDeletePaul, 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.
ReplyDeleteI 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.)
ReplyDeleteWell 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.
ReplyDeleteThank you.