| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: and all misfortune.
Thus you have, on the part of God, both the command and the promise of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Besides this, on your part, your own distress
which is about your neck, and because of which this command, invitation
and promise are given, ought to impel you. For He Himself says: They
that be whole need not a physician, but they that be sick; that is,
those who are weary and heavy-laden with their sins, with the fear of
death temptations of the flesh and of the devil. If therefore, you are
heavy-laden and feel your weakness, then go joyfully to this Sacrament
and obtain refreshment, consolation, and strength. For if you would
wait until you are rid of such burdens, that you might come to the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from A Passion in the Desert by Honore de Balzac: episode of an epic which one might call "The French in Egypt."
During the expedition in Upper Egypt under General Desaix, a Provencal
soldier fell into the hands of the Maugrabins, and was taken by these
Arabs into the deserts beyond the falls of the Nile.
In order to place a sufficient distance between themselves and the
French army, the Maugrabins made forced marches, and only halted when
night was upon them. They camped round a well overshadowed by palm
trees under which they had previously concealed a store of provisions.
Not surmising that the notion of flight would occur to their prisoner,
they contented themselves with binding his hands, and after eating a
few dates, and giving provender to their horses, went to sleep.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Exiles by Honore de Balzac: --where are they?
"At that hour the waters assumed fantastic hues under the sunset sky,
and seemed to be painted pictures; the stars dropped tender streaks of
light, the moon spread its pleasing snares; it gave another life to
the trees, to the color and form of things, and a new aspect to the
sparkling water, the silent hills, the eloquent buildings. The city
spoke, it glittered, it called to me to return!
"Columns of smoke rose up by the side of the ancient pillars, whose
marble sheen gleamed white through the night; the lines of the horizon
were still visible through the mists of evening; all was harmony and
mystery. Nature would not say farewell; she desired to keep me there.
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