Here is a reading from today's daily office.

Canticle:  A Song of Pilgrimage
Priusquam errarem
Ecclesiasticus 51:13-16, 20b-22

Before I ventured forth,
even while I was very young, *
I sought wisdom openly in my prayer.
In the forecourts of the temple I asked for her, *
and I will seek her to the end.
From first blossom to early fruit, *
she has been the delight of my heart.
My foot has kept firmly to the true path, *
diligently from my youth have I pursued her.
I inclined my ear a little and received her; *
I found for myself much wisdom and became adept in her.
To the one who gives me wisdom will I give glory, *
for I have resolved to live according to her way.
From the beginning I gained courage from her, *
therefore I will not be forsaken.
In my inmost being I have been stirred to seek her, *
therefore have I gained a good possession.
As my reward the Almighty has given me the gift of language,*
and with it will I offer praise to God.

Today, let's ponder how our prayer life has brought us wisdom.

Applying what we know, living by the word of God, is our work. 

When I read the words of Isaiah in the 61st chapter, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God . . ." I want to be like the author of that text and rejoice, exult in my God. 

Yet, my ability to do so is limited; it is an experience of failure. I cannot consistently rejoice, exult, or believe that God will not rest until the light God has placed in me "shines out like the dawn."

My pitfall shows up in my closest relationship, my marriage. Both my husband and I brought plenty of wounds into our marriage, as I would guess most brides and grooms do. Identifying those wounds and calling in the resources of heaven to clean and bind up those open sores is something the couple is required to do for itself. 

At the close of 2012, I felt that I was given enough light to name a deeper layer of our ache than I had previously been able to accurately identify. My husband also desires the application of God's salve, so together we are practicing staying in empathetic connection.

Returning to Isaiah 61, if we allow God to clothe us in the garments of salvation and the robe of righteousness, we will know ourselves by a new name, and experience ourselves to be a crown of beauty in the Lord's hand, a royal diadem in the hand of God.

Has God's light revealed deeper work for you to do?

image credit: Sisters in Zion goforwardwithfaith.blogspot.com/