The Teacher

Man is a pupil, pain is his teacher.

-Alfred de Musset

He Knows What He is About

God has created me

to do Him some definite service;
He has committed some work to me

which He has not committed to another.
I have my mission—

I may never know it in this life,

but I shall be told it in the next.

I am a link in a chain,

a bond of connection between persons.
He has not created me for nothing.

I shall do good.

I shall do His work.

Therefore I will trust Him.

Whatever, wherever I am.
I cannot be thrown away.
If I am in sickness,

my sickness may serve Him;
in perplexity,

my perplexity may serve Him;
if I am in sorrow,

my sorrow may serve Him.
He does nothing in vain.
He knows what He is about.
He may take away my friends.
He may throw me among strangers.
He may make me feel desolate,

make my spirits sink,

hide my future from me--
still He knows what He is about.

-Cardinal Newman