Here is an 1890's photograph of Isaak Levitan working on a large painting in his Moscow studio. And below is Cardinal Newman's prayer which invites us to reflect upon the meaning of Levitan's life, but all the more, our own.
God knows me and calls me by name.....
God has created me to do Him some definite service;
He has commited 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.
Somehow I am necessary for His purpose...
I have a part in the great work;
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connnection
between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good,
I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments
and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him.
Whatever, wherever I am,
I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
if I am in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him;
if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
My sickness or perplexity, or sorrow may be
necessary causes of some great end,
which is quite beyond us.
He does nothing in vain;
He may prolong my life,
He may shorten it;
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 the future from me -
still he knows what he is about.....
I am simply to be used.
March 7, 1848
God knows me and calls me by name.....
God has created me to do Him some definite service;
He has commited 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.
Somehow I am necessary for His purpose...
I have a part in the great work;
I am a link in a chain, a bond of connnection
between persons.
He has not created me for naught.
I shall do good,
I shall do His work;
I shall be an angel of peace,
a preacher of truth in my own place,
while not intending it,
if I do but keep His commandments
and serve Him in my calling.
Therefore I will trust Him.
Whatever, wherever I am,
I can never be thrown away.
If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him;
if I am in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him;
if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him.
My sickness or perplexity, or sorrow may be
necessary causes of some great end,
which is quite beyond us.
He does nothing in vain;
He may prolong my life,
He may shorten it;
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 the future from me -
still he knows what he is about.....
I am simply to be used.
March 7, 1848
