| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Large Catechism by Dr. Martin Luther: His kingdom comes of itself, without our prayer, yet we pray
nevertheless that it may come to us, that is, prevail among us and with
us, so that we may be a part of those among whom His name is hallowed
and His kingdom prospers.
But what is the kingdom of God? Answer: Nothing else than what we
learned in the Creed, that God sent His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, into
the world to redeem and deliver us from the power of the devil, and to
bring us to Himself, and to govern us as a King of righteousness, life
and salvation against sin death, and an evil conscience, for which end
He has also bestowed His Holy Ghost, who is to bring these things home
to us by His holy Word, and to illumine and strengthen us in the faith
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Study of a Woman by Honore de Balzac: the imposing glance which she cast upon Rastignac made him aware that
he had posed in his cravat a trifle prematurely.
"Madame, I understand you," he said, laughing. "I ought, therefore, to
be doubly thankful that Monsieur le marquis met me; he affords me an
opportunity to offer you excuses which might be full of danger were
you not kindness itself."
The marquise looked at the young man with an air of some surprise, but
she answered with dignity:--
"Monsieur, silence on your part will be the best excuse. As for me, I
promise you entire forgetfulness, and the pardon which you scarcely
deserve."
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: living for the future. Rough work now, and the graces by and
by."
"That is what we Americans always say," retorted Philip.
"Everything is in the future. What guaranty have we for that
future? I see none. We make no progress towards the higher
arts, except in greater quantities of mediocrity. We sell
larger editions of poor books. Our artists fill larger frames
and travel farther for materials; but a ten-inch canvas would
tell all they have to say."
"The wrong point of view," said Hal. "If you begin with high
art, you begin at the wrong end. The first essential for any
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