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I like to read quotes. Short pithy capsules of thought give me something to chew on. Often I forget them moments after reading but every once in a while a quote will hit at the perfect time and stay with me for a good long while.

I also like the surprise of finding out when quotes were said. I often smile when comments complaining of stressful times or hurried lives are dated hundreds of years ago. What do these folks have to be stressed about? Surely I am living in the most stressful times there are! Here’s a quote I found recently to prove my point:

I read this from Sir Jacob Astley:

O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day.
If I forget Thee, do not thou forget me.

Sir Jacob wrote this prayer in 1642. What was keeping him so busy that October? I went looking to see what was going on back then. I found it was the year Rembrandt painted the Night Watch. The year Issac Newton was born and the year Galilelo died. It was the year Abel Tassman, a Eurupoean, first sighted Tasmainia, and Blaise Pascal invented a mechanical device for calculating taxes. And it was also the beginning of the First Civil War in England. Sir Astley was going to war. He wrote his thoughts on the eve of the Battle of Edgewater. He said he was going to be busy? Busy! I'd say he was going to be stressed to his limit! This was definitely a day Jacob wanted to be remembered by God.

I love Astley’s thought: “You know God how busy the day will be and I really want to remember you, but it's not going to happen, I have to go into battle and I will surely be distracted.” This is my thought on many mornings as well: “God, you now how distracted I am going to get today. I want to think of you but I am going to forget. I am asking you not forget me though. And because I know you won’t forget me I will take comfort and head out into the battle of my day. Amen.”

366 years have passed and it’s still Me and Sir Jacob Astley praying for the same thing: Stay close I need you!

Posted 6/30/2008 @ 12:26 PM | Weekly Thoughts