In the desert monastery called Mar Saba near Jerusalem, a man now known as St. John Damascene (c. 676 – 749) would conclude his day of work and prayer by approaching his bed and praying:

O Master, Lover of mankind, is this bed to be my coffin, or will You enlighten my wretched soul with another day?  Behold, the coffin lies before me; behold, death confronts me…

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