WEBVTT - Calm Devotion

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Abides Sleep Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's meditation

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<v Speaker 1>is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio.

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<v Speaker 1>body as we hear tonight's sleep story. Hello and welcome

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<v Speaker 1>to this sleep story from Abide. I'm Tyler. Thanks for

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<v Speaker 1>joining me for our story calm devotion. As your day

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<v Speaker 1>draws to a close and you look forward to sleep,

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<v Speaker 1>it's time to find peace and rest in the presence

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<v Speaker 1>of the Lord. Close your eyes, take a deep breath,

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<v Speaker 1>and allow the cares of the day to melt away.

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<v Speaker 1>In this story, we will embark on a gentle journey

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<v Speaker 1>through Psalm one, verse two, letting its words and the

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<v Speaker 1>Holy Spirit guide us into a serene and RESTful sleep.

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<v Speaker 1>The Psalmist wrote in this verse, but his delight is

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<v Speaker 1>in the law of the Lord, and on his law

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<v Speaker 1>he meditates day and night. This beautiful verse invites us

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<v Speaker 1>to immerse ourselves in the Word of God, finding joy

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<v Speaker 1>and peace in his teachings. Let this journey through the

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<v Speaker 1>Psalm be a soothing balm for your soul, drawing you

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<v Speaker 1>closer to the Lord. As you prepare to rest in

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<v Speaker 1>this sleep reflection, we will consider the life of calm

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<v Speaker 1>devotion of priest and poet Gerard Manly Hopkins. We will

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<v Speaker 1>hear how Hopkinson's life was one of continual dedication to

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<v Speaker 1>the Lord, saturated in the Word of God, and ongoing

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<v Speaker 1>communion with the Holy Spirit. We will explore the peace

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<v Speaker 1>and simplicity Hopkins lived and hear some of the spirit

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<v Speaker 1>inspired poetry he penned during his time of solitude and

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<v Speaker 1>devotion to God. Hopkins' story has some wonderful insights to

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<v Speaker 1>share with us about what blessings can be enjoyed by

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<v Speaker 1>us all in a life of call devotion to God.

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<v Speaker 1>Come to God now just as you are, and put

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<v Speaker 1>it all on pause and find rest for your body,

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<v Speaker 1>your mind, and your spirit in the quiet. Imagine a

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<v Speaker 1>man whose art is steadfast in the Lord. This blessed

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<v Speaker 1>man is none other than Gerard Manly Hopkins, whose life

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<v Speaker 1>was a testament to his unwavering devotion to God. Hopkins

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<v Speaker 1>found delight in the Law of the Lord, meditating on

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<v Speaker 1>it day and night as he walked through life. It

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<v Speaker 1>was like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding

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<v Speaker 1>its fruit in season and whose leaf did not wither.

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<v Speaker 1>Hopkins was born in eighteen forty four in Stratford, Essex, England.

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<v Speaker 1>From a young age, he exhibited a profound sensitivity to

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<v Speaker 1>the natural world and a deep spiritual inclination. His early

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<v Speaker 1>education at Highgate School laid the foundation for his literary talents,

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<v Speaker 1>but it was at Balliol College, Oxford where his faith

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<v Speaker 1>truly blossomed. Under the influence of John Henry Newman, Hopkins

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<v Speaker 1>converted to Roman Catholicism, a decision that profoundly shaped his future.

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<v Speaker 1>Gerard Manly Hopkins's poetry and life were deeply rooted in

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<v Speaker 1>the Word of God, just as Psalm one says. But

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<v Speaker 1>his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and

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<v Speaker 1>on his law he meditates day and night. As you

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<v Speaker 1>picture this to voted man, feel the warmth of God's

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<v Speaker 1>love surround you like a soft, comforting blanket. The Law

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<v Speaker 1>of the Lord was not a burden for Hopkins, but

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<v Speaker 1>a source of joy and strength. It nourished his soul,

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<v Speaker 1>just as the streams of water nourish the tree. As

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<v Speaker 1>you meditate on God's word, feel your worries and fears dissipate,

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<v Speaker 1>replaced by a deep sense of peace and contentment. Picture

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<v Speaker 1>the tree in your mind. Its roots are deep and secure,

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<v Speaker 1>drawing life giving water from the stream. The leaves are

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<v Speaker 1>vibrant and healthy, and the branches are heavy with fruit.

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<v Speaker 1>This tree is strong and unshakable, just as Hopkins was

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<v Speaker 1>when he was grounded in God's word. Let this image

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<v Speaker 1>fill you with a sense of stability and assurance as

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<v Speaker 1>you prepare to rest here Psalm one, verse two again.

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<v Speaker 1>But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>and on his law he meditates day and night. Let

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<v Speaker 1>your thoughts turn to the law of the Lord. Thinking

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<v Speaker 1>of the commandments and teachings that guided hopkins life. These

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<v Speaker 1>were not restrictions, but hathways to a fulfilling and abundant life.

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<v Speaker 1>They were the words of a loving father who desires

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<v Speaker 1>the best for his children. Remember the feelings of closeness

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<v Speaker 1>you've had with God in the past. These moments are

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<v Speaker 1>treasures reminders of His faithfulness and love. Hold on to

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<v Speaker 1>these memories as you drift into sleep, allowing them to

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<v Speaker 1>comfort and reassure you. The Lord is always with you,

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<v Speaker 1>guiding and protecting you. As Hopkins meditated on the Law

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<v Speaker 1>of the Lord day and night, so too, can you

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<v Speaker 1>find peace and rest in God's Word. Let the Scriptures

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<v Speaker 1>be the last thing on your mind as you fall asleep,

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<v Speaker 1>knowing they will continue to work in your heart and

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<v Speaker 1>mind throughout the night. And may they also be the

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<v Speaker 1>first thing you think of as you wake in the morning.

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<v Speaker 1>Trust that the Holy Spirit is with you, filling you

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<v Speaker 1>with his presence and peace. May your delight be in

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<v Speaker 1>the Law of the Lord and on his Law. May

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<v Speaker 1>you meditate day and night. Delighting in the Law of

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<v Speaker 1>the Lord brings immense joy and fulfillment. Gerard Manly Hopkins

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<v Speaker 1>found profound joy in the Scriptures, which inspired much of

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<v Speaker 1>his poetry and guided his life. Imagine the joy that

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<v Speaker 1>comes from discovering a hidden treasure, The excitement and wonder

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<v Speaker 1>that fills your heart. This is the same joy that

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<v Speaker 1>filled Hopkins's heart as he meditated on God's Word. It's

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<v Speaker 1>a joy that is deep and abiding, not dependent on

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<v Speaker 1>external sircumstances. Relax even more as I read one of

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<v Speaker 1>Hopkins's most well loved poems, called God's Grandeur. Join in

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<v Speaker 1>the delight and wonder he experienced in gazing at the

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<v Speaker 1>Lord's work. The world is charged with the grandeur of God.

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<v Speaker 1>It will flame out like shaaning from shook foil. It

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<v Speaker 1>gathers to a greatness, like the ewes of oil crushed.

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<v Speaker 1>Why do men then now not wreck his rod? Generations

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<v Speaker 1>have trod, have trod, have trod, And all is seared

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<v Speaker 1>with trade, bleared, smeared with toil, and wears man's smudge

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<v Speaker 1>and shares man's smell. The soil is bare now, Nor

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<v Speaker 1>can feet feel being shad And for all that this

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<v Speaker 1>nature is never spent their lives the dearest freshness deep

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<v Speaker 1>down things. And though the last lights off the black

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<v Speaker 1>west went oh morning at the brown brink eastward springs,

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<v Speaker 1>because the holy ghost over the bent world broods with

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<v Speaker 1>warm breast and with ah bright wings. Let the devotion

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<v Speaker 1>from Hobkin's heart infuse you with a child like awe

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<v Speaker 1>and wonder. The light at God's handiwork overtook his very being.

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<v Speaker 1>He saw the God of the Bible in every part

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<v Speaker 1>of creation, even in the ooze of olive oil, when

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<v Speaker 1>the olives were crushed. I believe he observed those beautiful,

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<v Speaker 1>glossy olives as they were crushed, and he remembered the

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<v Speaker 1>prophecy from Isaiah fifty three, verse five, that he was

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<v Speaker 1>pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities.

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<v Speaker 1>Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace. And

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<v Speaker 1>with his wounds we are healed. Hopkins saw the God

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<v Speaker 1>of new life and creation, and the ancient God who

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<v Speaker 1>gave his people a beautiful law to abide by every day,

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<v Speaker 1>in every part of his daily life. Consider the beauty

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<v Speaker 1>of God's law. It is perfect and pure, a reflection

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<v Speaker 1>of his holy character. Each commandment in teaching is like

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<v Speaker 1>a precious gem shining with the light of truth and wisdom.

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<v Speaker 1>As you meditate on these truths, let them fill your

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<v Speaker 1>heart with joy and wonder. God's laws not a set

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<v Speaker 1>of rules to be followed out of obligation, but a

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<v Speaker 1>pathway to a life of abundance and peace. Hopkins's life

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<v Speaker 1>was one of deep commitment and routine prayer, study and

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<v Speaker 1>service marked his days. He rose early in the morning

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<v Speaker 1>to begin his day with prayer, seeking God's guidance and strength.

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<v Speaker 1>This time of communion with God was the foundation of

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<v Speaker 1>his daily life, grounding him in the truth of God's Word.

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<v Speaker 1>He was indeed a man of calm devotion. Throughout the day,

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<v Speaker 1>Hopkins engaged in various activities, from teaching and preaching to

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<v Speaker 1>writing and reflecting. His poetry, though often not widely appreciated

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<v Speaker 1>during his lifetime, was an expression of his deep faith

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<v Speaker 1>and his love for God's creation. As we just heard

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<v Speaker 1>in God's Grandeur, Hopkins delighted in the beauty of God's

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<v Speaker 1>handiwork in the world around him and sought to capture it.

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<v Speaker 1>In his verses, his life sounds like a life of discipline,

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<v Speaker 1>but delighting himself and the Lord actually formed its foundation,

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<v Speaker 1>just like it did for the Psalmist. And indeed Hopkins

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<v Speaker 1>was himself a Psalmist. We can read in his poetry

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<v Speaker 1>that he did not merely live out a series of

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<v Speaker 1>bland and dry religious practices. Oh No, we can read

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<v Speaker 1>the joy and excitement that leaps off each stanza in verse.

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<v Speaker 1>Whether he was spending time in the Word or meditating

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<v Speaker 1>in God's creation, he was experiencing the joy of the Lord.

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<v Speaker 1>Let the times you have experienced the joy of living

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<v Speaker 1>according to God's word to fill your mind. Perhaps it

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<v Speaker 1>was a moment of forgiveness when you let go of

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<v Speaker 1>a grudge and felt the freedom that comes from releasing bitterness.

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<v Speaker 1>Or maybe it was a time of generosity when you

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<v Speaker 1>gave selflessly to someone in need and experienced the joy

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<v Speaker 1>of being a blessing to others. These moments give us

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<v Speaker 1>glimpses of the abundant life God desires for us. As

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<v Speaker 1>you delight in the law of the Lord, let your

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<v Speaker 1>heart be filled with gratitude. Thank God for his word,

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<v Speaker 1>for the guidance and wisdom it provides. Thank Him for

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<v Speaker 1>the moments of joy and peace that come from living

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<v Speaker 1>according to his teachings. Let this gratitude fill your heart

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<v Speaker 1>and mind as you rest. Let me pray for you

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<v Speaker 1>one last time, Beautiful Jesus, our hero and champion, Thank

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<v Speaker 1>you for bringing this child delight. As they let your

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<v Speaker 1>words soak in their hearts. May they meditate effortlessly on

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<v Speaker 1>your word as they sleep, and may it nourish them.

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<v Speaker 1>And may they arise, revived and refreshed for the day tomorrow,

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<v Speaker 1>ready to see your hand in everything your solutions coming

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<v Speaker 1>for every problem. May they live a life of calm

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<v Speaker 1>devotion to you, moment by moment, delighting in you all

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<v Speaker 1>the time days of their life. In your precious name, Amen.

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<v Speaker 1>I will close out our story on one final poem

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<v Speaker 1>from Gerard Manly Hopkins called Hide Beauty, in which he

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<v Speaker 1>marvels delightedly at God's unique creation. Glory be to God

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<v Speaker 1>for dappled things, for skies of couple color as a

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<v Speaker 1>brinded cow or rose moles, all in stipple upon trout

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<v Speaker 1>that swim, fresh fire, coal, chestnut falls, finch his wings,

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<v Speaker 1>landscape plotted in peaced fold, follow and plow, and all

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<v Speaker 1>trades their gear and tackle and trim, all things counter original, spare, strange,

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<v Speaker 1>whatever is fickle, freckled, Who knows how? With swift, slow,

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<v Speaker 1>sweet sour, a dazzle dim He fathers forth, whose beauty

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<v Speaker 1>is past change, Praise him,