February 21: Contentment in Grace Alone

            Being saved by grace alone can be surprisingly difficult to accept. In a society measured by achievements and productions, we think we must be constantly working towards God’s love. So we ask God to guide us towards contentment in grace alone. We seek peace in the knowledge that God accepts us on the virtue of love rather than on the amount of effort we show. May we feel a sense of calm knowing that, while good works are valuable in themselves, security is guaranteed through God’s care for us and for all of Creation.

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October 26: Striving for Contentment with What One Has

            Ambition creates its own sense of chaos. Our days are constantly disturbed by hunger for a better, fuller life. Ambition turns to anxiety and fear that we will never have enough to be happy. We ask for God’s help in breaking this spiral of dissatisfaction. May we find peace in contentment with all God has given us. While we still work for the betterment of ourselves and of humanity, we will do such with the security of God’s never-ending love and compassion for humankind.

Bonus Idea for Contemplation:

The following verses come from the Batu Caves Hindu Temples in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I invite you to read these words and contemplate their meaning in your own spiritual life.

Geetha Upadesha

Whatever happened was good.

Whatever is happening is also good.

Whatever will happen that also will be good.

What did you lose that you are crying for?

What did you bring which have you lost?

What did you create that is destroyed?

Whatever you have taken is taken only from here.

Whatever you have given, is given only from here.

Whatever is yours today,

will belong to someone else tomorrow

On another day,

it will belong to yet another

This inevitable change

is the law of the universe and

the objective of my creation

-Bhagavan Sri Krishna

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