As I was cleaning, well, actually I am still cleaning off my desk. I just stopped to write this post real quick.  I was noticing all the dust on top of the books stacked standing on my desk. As I blew off the dust I was think how I shouldn’t be doing this, because now the dust is just going onto the couch. The another distraction, I grabbed my book, Relationship Devotional by Abigail Wilentz, realized that I have never even opened it since I bought it.  Who knows how long ago that was. I opened it to a random page.  This is my reading for today…

Voltaire

to Olympe Dunoyer

The young French writer and philosopher Voltaire (whose real name was Francois-Marie Arouet) writes from prison to his forbidden love, Olympe Dunoyer:

The Hague, 1713

I am a prisoner here in the name of the King;  they can take my life, but not the love that I feel for you. Yes, my adorable mistress, to-night I shall see you, and if I had to put my head on the block to do it.

For heaven’s sake, do not speak to me in such disastrous terms as you write; you must live and be cautions; beware of madame your mother as of your worst enemy. Why do I say?  Beware of everybody;  trust no one;  keep yourself in readiness, as soon as the moon is visible;  I shall leave the hotel incognito, take a carriage or a chaise, we shall drive like the wind to Sheveningen;  I shall take paper and ink with me;  we shall write our letters.

If you love me, reassure yourself; and call all your strength and presence of mind to your aid;  do not let your mother notice anything, try to have your pictures, and be assured that menace of the greatest tortures will not prevent me to serve you. No, nothing has the power to part me from you;  our love is based upon virtue, and will last as long as our lives.  Adieu, there is nothing that I will not brave for your sake; you deserve much more than that.  Adieu, my dear heart!

-Arout (Voltaire)

This is a reminder to me to never give up on what you love. Never. 🙂

xo