Thought for the week

Many Oban Times readers will be busy again in this new season as visitors pour into the islands and our days are busy taking care of their needs.

In the 17th Century there lived in a monastery a monk called Brother Lawrence. Most of his time was spent in the kitchen, and sometimes he felt that he was nothing like as “holy” as his fellow monks who spent many hours every day praying and studying. But he remembered how Jesus came to serve us, and all these years later he is still remembered for the prayer he wrote, which is part of a longer book, about finding God everywhere, called “The practice of the presence of God.”

“Lord of all pots and pans and things,

since I’ve no time to be a great saint by doing lovely things,

or watching late with Thee, or dreaming in the dawnlight,

or storming heaven’s gates,

make me a saint by getting meals, and washing up the plates.

Warm all the kitchen with Thy Love, and light it with Thy peace;

forgive me all my worrying, and make my grumbling cease.

Thou who didst love to give men food, in room, or by the sea,

accept the service that I do, I do it unto Thee.”

“The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.” Mark 10 verse 45