Being and Doing – 27 March – Present Opportunities

THE souls that would really be richer in duty in some new position are precisely those who borrow no excuses from the old one;  who even esteem it full of privileges, plenteous in occasions of good, frequent in divine appeals, which they chide their graceless and unloving temper for not heeding more.  Wretched and barren is the discontent that quarrels with its tools instead of with its skill;  and, by criticising Providence, manages to keep up complacency with self.  How gentle should we be, if we were not provoked;  how pious, if we were not busy; the sick would be patient, only he is not in health;  the obscure would do great things, only he is not conspicuous!

J. MARTINEAU

I HAD hoped, Madame, to find you here, and was rejoicing in that hope;  but God has sent you elsewhere.  The best place is wherever he puts us, and any other would be undesirable, all the worse because it would please our fancy, and would be of our own choice.

FÉNÉLON

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These quotes are from ‘Being and Doing’ A selection of helpful thoughts from various authors arranged for daily reading.

Collected by Constance M Whishaw and first published in 1908 for members of the Being and Doing Guild whose object is to do all they can for the relief of suffering and misery.

Most of the writers are 19th Century Christians from Britain and Europe who were committed to living their faith through deeds as well as words – Being AND Doing.

For many years these words have kept me company and encouraged me on the journey of faith.  I hope they will encourage others also.