I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken away from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before Him. That which has been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.
Ecclesiastes 3: 14, 15 (KJV)

I have had occasion to contemplate what is going on in my life lately. I was in an auto accident and had to be at home for a time recuperating. I had time on my hands and took up the Bible in my odd moments. I reread several passages especially in the third chapter of Ecclesiastes. I went beyond my favorite verses (Ecclesiastes 3:1-9) and found some verses that fit me to a tee. I had been stressing myself with analyses and re-analyses of what I could have done differently and was dealing with the feeling of guilt for what had happened.

Though Ecclesiastes is not usually thought of as the happiest of books in the Bible, this time it opened my heart and mind to the realization that many things are beyond my control -- especially the actions of others. I realized that eventually that statistics related to the amount of time I spend driving had caught up with me. I found myself accepting what had happened and am grateful for not suffering with what might have been. I felt relieved and my attitudes changed. I needed to accept what had happened and move on from there to where I can be. I cannot live in the past and what has already been; I have to deal with the here and now in order to be able to adjust to what will be.

Also, I read many other books too and came across a simple and meaningful mealtime prayer in one of my science fiction books and I have included it as the prayer.

Let us pray:
[From Alector's Choice by L.E. Modesitt, Jr. pp. 18 and 506]
 
In the name of the One Who Was, Is, and Will Be, may our food be blessed and our lives as well, in times of prosperity and peace and in those which are neither. Blessed be the lives of both the deserving and the undeserving, that both may strive to do good in the world and beyond, and may we always recall that we do not judge our worthiness, but leave that judgment to the One Who is. Amen

Contributed by Michael S.
Published Sunday July 3, 2005
Week 32 of Liturgical Year A