Like a tree planted by streams of water

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love

For it is in giving that we receive
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life
Amen

- St. Francis of Assisi

I'm a big fan of this guy. I memorized this prayer years ago, and I frequently come back to it, whether when praying with others or just on my own. Or whenever I try to do that "pray continuously" thing. I chew on this prayer (as the Message's version of Psalm 1 would have it). Turn it over in my mind. Try it on. Try it out. Remember it. Show others.

Are there prayers or passages of scripture that have stuck with you? That carry you through the day? That kick out your feet and lay you down in God's arms? That challenge you to action? That challenge you to find the divine in every situation? That remind you of the reality in Christ towards which we run? That you've taken the trouble of memorizing?

Last night, a bunch of us here at Swat over the summer had a bible study/GIG in ML. We read Psalm 1. (A few non-SCF people came. Yay!) We talked a lot about the importance of being planted/rooted in scripture. And as we all learned in sunday school as grade school young 'uns, a great way to stay rooted throughout the day is memorization. So let me know which passages you've memorized (and still remember) which have kept you rooted and bearing fruit. I know a prayer isn't the same thing as scripture... but this is a great prayer.

Wes