Being and Doing – 28 November – Bondage to Rules

TO a young girl who had just left school, she wrote – ‘I think this is such an important year of your life, and such a difficult one;  the getting into regular employment when you have to plan it for yourself.   I used always to be getting more to do than I could manage;  there is great fret and worry running after work, it is not good, spiritually or intellectually.   I wish I could help you;  but I am so often in this state myself that I hardly know how.   I think I find most help in trying to look on all interruptions and hindrances, to work that one as planned out for oneself, as discipline, trials sent by God to help one against getting selfish over one’s work.   One’s work for God consists in doing some trifling, haphazard thing that has been thrown into one’s day.   It is not waste of time, as one is tempted to think, it is the most important part of the work of the day – the part one can best offer to God.   After such a hindrance do not rush after planned work, trust that the time to finish it well will be given some time, and keep a quiet heart above it.’ 

ANNIE KEARY

PERHAPS there is nothing so irritating to others as a morbid passion for order.   Disordered order is the most active cause of disorder.   Over-restless activity is the parent of a despairing in-activity in others.

STOPFORD BROOKE

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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.