Make my days happy as they were sad

When I was at the monastery over the New Years

one of the line of a prayer that was prayed

every day was to this effect:

Lord, make my days happy as they were sad.

I am not sure what part of a service or Psalm

this prayer is from,

but it has stayed with me.

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I know at least in part that the goal of our lives is

not to be happy.

Shocking, I know, since

the pursuit of happiness

has become a constitutional right!

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But happiness is found in giving of one's self

not in self-love,

not in looking for self-fulfillment.

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Yet this prayer is real too;

after days and years of sorrow

though I have so much compared to most,

like the country of Haiti or

the poor and homeless in Ottawa;

yet I hope that new things can happen in my life,

starting with employment...

It is a beautiful day here.

My new computer is pretty much set up.

Just need some CDs to burn music from my old

computer before it dies

(it's my Slavonic music that a friend gave me;

I lost the CD of it and only have it on my computer).

A friend is coming soon for tea.

I have been cleaning house;

where does all the paper come from

that I am constantly recycling!

This picture is for Marfa who asked if

I have gone skating on the Rideau Canal;

Here is a picture I promised!

I have not skated since I was a kid but every winter

Ottawa lowers the water for the canal and

many go skating,

many even skate all the way to work or school!

Beauty and hospitality is so important.

Heard an astounding sermon this week;

Theophany as the revelation of God

in the Trinity

as a deep reciprocal intimate love shared with

the Father and the Son

through the Holy Spirit;

this is my beloved Son, of Whom I am well pleased.

That the Baptism of the Lord is an invitation of God

to us to see who God is the Trinity;

a Divine Thrice Unity of intense love.

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The Trinity Icon is also called the Hospitality of Abraham;

the Trinity is the pinnacle of unity love and hospitality

shared in perfect relationship.

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May we learn to seek this God and share in this beautiful

hospitality.