I had to throw away a desk blotter – the kind that you can slide pictures or little quotes underneath.

(I know it doesn’t make much sense to have this kind of desk blotter, particularly since mine is always COVERED with papers. But I like them.)

Anyway, there were some quotes that I had carefully saved and I didn’t want to lose them. So there will be a series of posts “From The Blotter” so that I can put them on my virtual desk, together with some of my favorite photographs. Enjoy!

from New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton

Give me the strength
that waits upon You in silence and peace.
Give me humility
in which alone is rest,
and deliver me from pride
which is the heaviest of burdens.
And possess my whole heart and soul
with the simplicity of love.

Occupy my whole life
with the one thought
and the one desire of love, that I may love
not for the sake of merit,
not for the sake of perfection,
not for the sake of virtue,
not for the sake of sanctity,
but for You alone.
Amen.