Prayers and Thoughts

for Reflection

Lenton Devotional

2008

February 22

Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on.

Samuel Butler

Every piece of marble has a statue in it waiting to be released by a man of sufficient skill to chip away the unnecessary parts.  Just as the sculptor is to the marble, so is education to the soul.  It releases it.  For only educated men are free men.  You cannot create a statue by smashing the marble with a hammer, and you cannot by force of arms release the spirit or the soul of man.

Confucius

God stands as it were a handbreath off, leaving his creatures room to grow in.

Robert Browning

Whatever you can do or dream you can,  begin it.  Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

Goethe

If you have knowledge, let others light their candles at it.

Thomas Fuller

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Dear Lord, Thank you for the promise of Your word.  Thank you for opportunities to learn and grow. When I am confused or hurried with a hunger and thirst for knowledge – slow me down so I can focus, be dedicated, disciplined and absorb. Thank you not only for the excitement that comes with learning, but for the puzzles and questions and the challenges to learn even more.  Thank you for the candles lit from knowledge not only in the classroom, but through science and medicine and the opportunities to help others that come through this knowledge.  Thank you for teachers and the opportunity to teach and be a student.  May I never be too old to learn. Amen.