Here's an excerpt from More Savoring God: Praying With All Our Senses by Kathleen Finley (Resource Publications).

This is from the meditation on a ruler, titled "Ruler: A Generous Measure":

“Measuring” happens in more ways than just counting inches and pounds.  We live in a society that is very competitive and, therefore, quite judgmental.  If we’re not judging others, their looks or their actions, then we’re usually doing the same to ourselves, with even more severity.  But Jesus reminds us in Luke’s gospel not to judge at all, to remember God’s wonderful and gracious generosity and then to act similarly toward others.
    "Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back" (Luke 6:37-38).
    Generous and gracious God, help me to learn to “measure” with Your scale, to not spend my energies judging myself or others.  Bless those who work with measures of all kinds every day; keep them fair and honest, especially with the poor.  Help me to keep learning about and wondering at Your “countless” gifts to me.  Amen.

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Wisdom from the world's great religious traditions...

From Prayer for People Who Think Too Much by Mitch Finley (Skylight Paths):

Before we continue, I want to lay my own cards on the table. I am an active Roman Catholic, and happily so. While this might sound odd, because I am Catholic I consider myself uniquely qualified to write a book that draws on many religious traditions for wisdom and guidance. For the term "catholic" means "universal" or "all-inclusive," and Catholicism, the religion, is open to whatever is good, true, and beautiful regardless of its source. As a Catholic, in other words, I try to be catholic, with a lower case "c." I try to approach the experience of prayer and spirituality not just with my mind but with my heart, as well. I invite you to do the same.
I suggest that we acknowledge that prayer and spirituality constitute a mystery. This simply means that when we pray, we intentionally, consciously relate ourselves to God, the Divine Mystery, the Great Cosmic Presence, the Ground of All Being. Whatever. This means we must be willing to live with Someone or Something we will never understand–which is not such a startling remark since we can say the same for any human being we have ever known, including ourselves. Are you not a mystery to yourself? I thought so.

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New Edition of a wonderful gift & resource for families!

From Our Family Book of Days by Kathleen Finley (Wipf & Stock):

In February we dare to think about spring. The dark, quiet work of winter is almost over; it is time to prepare ourselves for the profusion of colors and scents that come with spring. The word "February" means "purification" and so this month we begin to look forward to Lent and the opportunity to purify ourselves in Easter hope.

Lent usually begins during this month and is preceded in many locales by a time of feasting and carnival. Carnival comes from the Latin Carne, which literally means"farewell, meat" because in the strict medieval fasts, no meat was eaten during Lent. The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Mardi Gras in French, or Fat Tuesday, in English. This tradition stems from the old custom of using up all traces of fat, dairy products and eggs before Lent, customarily on pancakes or doughnuts eaten on this day.

This is one of the best wedding or baptism gifts you will ever find, and a resource that families of all kinds will treasure for years. To learn more about this terrific book, or to purchase a copy, click here: Family Book of Days