“I Can Wait”

Margaret Halaska was a Franciscan nun and poet known for her spiritually reflective and insightful poetry. Her writing often merges simplicity with deep theological themes, emphasizing humility, trust, and openness in spiritual life. One of her most famous poems is Covenant, which offers a profound metaphor for the relationship between God and an individual. I will let the poem speak to your heart directly without offering any interpretation.

Covenant

The Father
knocks at my door 
seeking a home for his son.

Rent is cheap, I say.

I don’t want to rent. I want to buy, says God.

I’m not sure I want to sell, 
but you might come in and look around.

I think I will, says God.

I might let you have a room or two.

I like it, says God. I’ll take the two. You might decide to give me more some day. 
I can wait, says God.

I’d like to give you more, 
but it’s a bit difficult. I need some space for me.

I know, says God, but I’ll wait. I like what I see.

Hm, maybe I can let you have another room. 
I really don’t need that much.

Thanks, says God, I’ll take it. I like what I see.

I’d like to give you the whole house 
but I’m not sure …

Think on it, says God. I wouldn’t put you out. 
Your house would be mine and my son would live in it. 
You’d have more space than you’d ever had before.

I don’t understand at all.

I know, says God, but I can’t tell you about that. 
You’ll have to discover it for yourself. 
That can only happen if you let me have the whole house.

A bit risky, I say.

Yes, says God, but try me.

I’m not sure – 
I’ll let you know.

I can wait, says God, I like what I see.

 

Notes

Halaska, M. in Rolheiser, R. (2014). Sacred fire: A vision for a deeper human and Christian maturity. Image, p. 142.

A Mis-lived Life

A well-lived life is an inherent unfolding of human existence. However, it is neither automatic nor guaranteed simply because we live it in any way. We can mis-live our lives, and tragically, we may never even realize it.

Mathew Kelly, an Australian motivational speaker, explains that a mis-lived life is a poorly lived life, the direct opposite of a well-lived life. He further adds, “It means to lead a life marked by wasted potential and misalignment with all that is good, true, just, and noble.” We can waste our God-given gifts and talents, or use them for the wrong purposes. We can miss our true purpose in life and overlook what is truly valuable and beautiful.

Mis-living our lives isn’t difficult. Kelly reminds us that it only takes consistent mediocrity, laziness, procrastination, obsession with material possessions, and self-centeredness. You can mis-live your life, I can mis-live mine, and anyone can mis-live theirs. It can be hard to detect whether we are mis-living, especially in a society where so many people are unaligned with their true nature and purpose. We may mistakenly assume our lives are well-lived simply because everyone else seems to be living in the same way.

It requires humility and courage to pause, reflect, and examine whether our hearts and actions align with what God created us to be. A well-lived life is a joy and a blessing to others. In contrast, a mis-lived life is a deep pit of sadness, leaving us with a continuous sense of emptiness and hopelessness, despite outward success.

Can we create space in our lives to regularly check whether we are living as God intended?

 

 

Notes

Kelly, M. (2024). The three ordinary voices of God (p. 2). Blue Sparrow.

Embracing Failure: Lessons for Life

Failures are not only inevitable but often necessary for growth. They touch every stage of life, from a toddler learning to walk to a leader managing a vast institution. While failure is universal, how people perceive and respond to it makes all the difference. Though we cannot insulate ourselves from failure, we can develop perspectives and transformative ways of dealing with it. Pankaj Mishra shares insights from a few notable Indian leaders who encountered failure and turned it into a stepping stone.

Nandan Nilekani, after losing his parliamentary seat in 2014, reflected that failure teaches invaluable lessons. By refocusing on what truly mattered to him, he contributed to transformative systems like Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface (UPI). He reminds us that failure can redirect us toward our true purpose.

Uday Kotak, founder of Kotak Mahindra Bank, says, “If what you create does not outlive you, then you have failed.” His vision goes beyond temporary successes or setbacks, challenging us to strive for a legacy that endures.

Harsh Mariwala, founder of Marico, believes, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.” His words highlight that some of life’s most transformative lessons emerge from failures.

Sridhar Vembu, the driving force behind Zoho, asserts, “A failure is only a failure if you never recover from it.” This perspective reminds us that failures can either weigh us down or become stepping stones to growth.

A.R. Rahman, the globally renowned musician, says, “You have never failed as long as you can be a source of goodness.” Rahman reframes success and failure, focusing instead on radiating goodness, irrespective of circumstances.

Even Jesus spoke about the transformative power of failure: “Unless a grain of wheat falls and dies, it cannot produce much fruit” (Jn. 12:24). True success often involves gracefully passing through failure, as these moments lead us inward and downward, fostering deep insights, creativity, and alignment with what truly matters.

Failures, when embraced, are not dead ends but opportunities for profound growth, new life, and renewed purpose.

 

Notes

Mishra, P. (2024). Against the grain: Lessons from the outliers. Penguin Books.