This heavy pewter emblem with text was purchased during a visit to Iona, Scotland. I'm not sure how old the inscribed sentiments are (you could look it up). Okay, it's actually from the Latin writings of Desiderius Erasmus.

Erasmus (usually just so called) was a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, teacher, and theologian. He was a contemporary of Martin Luther and the Reformation, and influenced both significantly. Luther's exchanges with Erasmus (verbal sparring often) are insightful if not inspiring to read.

The motto hung for years in my last place of vocational enterprise, and is now in our bedroom.

It is sometimes uncomfortable, even scary, but mostly calming and faith-building, to think: Bidden or not bidden, God is present.