Devotional, November 21, 1999

!!!!
Each week you will be able to read a devotional
thought which we hope you will find
enjoyable and comforting
as well as
insightful and challenging.

The following piece entitled "It Doesn't Interest Me..." was written by Oriah Mountain Dreamer, a Native American:

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking the fool for love, for your dreams, for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the center of your sorrow, if you have been opened up by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.....

I want to know if you can be faithful and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see beauty even when it's not a pretty day, and if you can source your life from God's presence.....

It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after a night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone, and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't matter who you are, or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the center of the fire with me and not shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself, and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.

*********************

Truly the things which really matter are not those things which are readily seen on the outside, but the strength of our character, something found on
the inside.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things."
(Matthew 12:35)

Have a great week!

In Jesus' name, Amen.

This weeks thought and comments comes from Thought-for-the-day, a daily devotional which you can receive daily on line by subscribing at:

or send an E-mail to:

thought-for-the-day@eGroups.com

It is created by Alan Smith,
Boone Church of Christ,
Boone, NC