Is There a Minister in the House? - June 10, 2018

To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion;

to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;
to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly;

to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages with open heart;
to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely,
await occasions, hurrying never.

In a word, to let the spiritual,
unbidden and unconscious,
grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

~ William Ellergy Channing (1780-1842)