Dear God,

Here on earth you are constantly seeking to change us.

At times we wish to flee into the wilderness

    to avoid you.

But let us learn to love the lasting things of heaven,

    rather than the dying things of earth.

We must accept that time always brings change;

and we pray that by your grace the change within our souls

    will make us worthy of your heavenly kingdom,

    where all time will cease.

Alcuin of York, c. 735-804, English scholar who served in the court of Charlemagne

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Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.