The White Parasol

11 Aug, 2008

A Beautiful Prayer

Posted by: edb In: Mrs. Overall's Things| Someone told Ann . . .

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said “No”. “It is not for me to take it away, but for you to give it up”.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said “No”. “His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary”.

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said “No”. “Patience is a by product of tribulations, it isn’t granted, it is learned”.

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said “No”. “I give you blessings; happiness is up to you”.

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said “No”. “Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me”.

I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said “No”. “You must grow on your own! But I will prune you to make you fruitful”.

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said “No”. “I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things”.

I asked God to help me love others as much as He loves me.
God said “Aaah, finally you have the idea”.

(From Lyn, Ann’s American friend)

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about the brolly thing

The White Parasol is our (see "about little me and mrs. overall) umbrella where reflections on the confluence of religious,spiritual and modern, everyday life - with all its conflicting issues - can be looked at without and with prejudices. A practical emphasis to provide another way of looking at the bigger picture, in the midst of the ordinary material life, but without theological restriction (which doesn't mean that it is to be disregarded either). The parasol is to protect us from the heat that the issues generate theologically and politically. To propose and discuss,listen to and open up to, other perspectives without fear of getting burnt, in the hope of moving onwards. A belief is not necessarily a reality or a truth, but a programming. The overriding approach: "Faith is about searching for the truth without fear, so it doesn't matter if we lose all of our beliefs.." (from a compilation of ancient wisdoms spanning all religions in Anthony De Mello's "Song of the Bird). But can we question,without fear,issues which shape families, towns, nations and what wars are made of? Well if all the political diplomacy we have had since time immemorial can deliver only a war-torn earth, even in contemporary and "more enlightened" times two thousand years after Christ came to bring peace, perhaps we should dare to.