Thoughts for the week:

February 13

In a race, it is when the goal is in sight that heart and nerves and muscles and courage are strained almost to the breaking point. So with us. The goal of the spiritual life is in sight. All we need is the final effort. The saddest records are made by people who ran well, with brave, stout hearts, until the sight of the goal and then some weakness or self-indulgence held them back. They never knew how near the goal they were or how near they were to victory.

24 Hours a Day

February 15 Demonstrating Forgiveness

The forgiveness of others is the vestibule of Heaven. You have to get rid of all resentment and condemnation of others and, not least, of self-condemnation and remorse. You have to forgive yourself, but you cannot forgive yourself until you have forgiven others first...

Search and see if you are not really holding a grudge against some idividual, or some group. If so, you have an act of forgiveness to preform, and when this is done, you will probably make your demonstration.

Around the Year with Emmet Fox (Excerpt)

February 16

I will try to be unruffled, no matter what happens. I will keep my emotions in check, although others about me are letting theirs go. I will keep calm in the face of disturbance, keep that deep, inner calm through all the experiences of the day. In the rush of work and worry, the deep, inner silence is necessary to keep me on an even keel. I must learn to take the calm with me into the most hurried days.

24 Hours a Day

February 18  Lead Us Not Into Temptation

The facts are these - the more you pray, the more sensitive you become, and the more powerful are your prayers. But you also become more suceptible to forms of temptation that simply do not beset those at an earlier stage. Subtle and powerful temptations await; temptations to work for self-glory, for personal distinction; temptation to personal prefernces other than perfect impartiality. Beyond all other temptations the deadly sin of spiritual pride. 

Around the Year with Emmet Fox (Excerpt)

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