"How happy I am to see myself imperfect and to be in need of God's mercy." -- St Therese of Lisieux
The Story of the Prodigal Son crossed my mind this morning at work
What crossed my mind as so interesting is that the son essentially asked his
father if he could squander his life and the father just let the son go.
I don't think he was a bad father--I think he was a wise father. I think he knew that there are some
people who only learn from doing. They have to touch everything and experience everything
without even knowing that that is there goal. I think the father waited, prayed and hoped, knowing that
God does not disappoint. He waited knowing that like the
money he gave his son gets spent, the world loses its luster.
When the son finally lost everything, the one thing he remember was his father's house.
The Son remembered his roots knowing that, there is no disappointment there. That
if he made the effort (by God's grace) he could find a place there again. That even though
he abused the father and used him and deceived him, that he was still his blood, and that
no matter the bad he did--he was still good. The bottom line is that no matter the sin--no matter the damage
done, he felt that he could some how come back to the father. The father left his arms open and let the
son go. Im sure the father was in pain and he was sad and that he pleaded for his son, but he also
knew that God's ways were not his ways and that God somewhere, somehow allowed this son of his to
hurt him knowing that there was a greater purpose to come.
God has a funny way of building virtue, greater love and bringing healing to our hearts. It
does not always come packaged very pretty--sometimes he gives us a crown of thorns and well, all I
want to say to Jesus is: umm, excuse me I did not ask for this---or can you give me a crown that may
not prick as much! He gives us what we need and not what we want. So why do people walk away from God? I don't know
I myself know that the world looks pretty nice, but that look does not last very long. The bottom line is that people make there own decisions and it is nothing that is said or done by family or friends --the prodigal son made a choice--he chose to leave--he chose to squander.
We as a society are good at the blame game and good at making sure that I can take no responsibility for my own actions. The funny thing is the story of the prodigal son does not start out with, "well a man had two sons and he was very abusive and the house was disfunctional." No not at all, it just said that a man had two sons and one of them chose to leave!
So its not about a wound or pain being there already, it was about a choice that this son made.
The son understood God's love intellectually, but he had to experience God's love through his mercy...so he had to leave and come home again! Who knows why they all walk away, but love and mercy need to await them upon there return.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Difference..
God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things i can and the wisdom to know the difference.
One of the hardest challenges that i have faced in my life is acceptance. Acceptance is so hard because for me I realize that i have no control nor power anymore...like I ever did to begin with. Basically it is a struggle and one of the hardest hurdle to jump over.
Acceptance came for me through a lot of prayer and time. A lot of God taking the reins away from my hands and allowing me to squirm a bit in my sea of uncomfortability. I wanted to be in control...let go and Let God made sense, but the application of it seemed almost impossible. How can I let go? God wants me to do my part right? I need to have my hands in it some how to make sure it turns out right, right? Wrong!!! I found through my experience that the more i put my hands in things that were not mine to meddle with the messier they seemed. The messy comes from trying to do a job that is not mine to do.
My lack of acceptance came from my fear of surrender. If I let go, nothing would come out the way I thought it should. If i let go, how would I be assured that I would get what I wanted? The answer, which I learned the hard way is this: I will never be certain that my life will turn out the way I think it will and I certainly will never always get what I want. Both very harsh realities, but I needed to hear them to move forward. When I became aware of my possible fate, I had to go and try to accept this reality. I found that acceptance was a process. I had to see that not always getting what I ask for was a gift. A gift of God's love for me, and his protection for my soul. Many things, without my wanting them to, were taken away from me. I cried, I got angry, I as frustrated...not knowing why? Why would God take these "Good" things out of my life...there was nothing wrong with them..right?
Well that is when the idea of me not knowing what is truly best for me comes in. I don't, only God in his goodness knows what I truly need to grow and what would be best for my soul. Sometimes things that seem harmless are taken out of our lives. Or we are called to step away from a seemingly harmless situation and/or person. But God seems so much more then we do. He knows exactly what is gonna bring us home to his loving arms. He knows that Satan wants to throw you off course, and so we experience many wolves in sheeps clothing.
The thing that draws us closer to acceptance and gives us the openness to say yes to God's will and no to ours is a personal prayer life. It comes down to this, if someone is a stranger to me or even only an aquaintance i will probably be weary to trust them or let them into all aspects of my life. Which is a completely valid reaction. On the other hand the closer I become to a person, the more i learn to open up and trust them with my life. Acceptance is only possible, when relationship with Christ is there. Without the relationship, it is a lot harder to accept someone walking into your house, rearranging all the furniture and then leaving. When I am in relationship with Christ I learn to accept the things I cannot change--His will for me, and ask for the courage to change what I can-- my perspective on the situation.
And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake.
One of the hardest challenges that i have faced in my life is acceptance. Acceptance is so hard because for me I realize that i have no control nor power anymore...like I ever did to begin with. Basically it is a struggle and one of the hardest hurdle to jump over.
Acceptance came for me through a lot of prayer and time. A lot of God taking the reins away from my hands and allowing me to squirm a bit in my sea of uncomfortability. I wanted to be in control...let go and Let God made sense, but the application of it seemed almost impossible. How can I let go? God wants me to do my part right? I need to have my hands in it some how to make sure it turns out right, right? Wrong!!! I found through my experience that the more i put my hands in things that were not mine to meddle with the messier they seemed. The messy comes from trying to do a job that is not mine to do.
My lack of acceptance came from my fear of surrender. If I let go, nothing would come out the way I thought it should. If i let go, how would I be assured that I would get what I wanted? The answer, which I learned the hard way is this: I will never be certain that my life will turn out the way I think it will and I certainly will never always get what I want. Both very harsh realities, but I needed to hear them to move forward. When I became aware of my possible fate, I had to go and try to accept this reality. I found that acceptance was a process. I had to see that not always getting what I ask for was a gift. A gift of God's love for me, and his protection for my soul. Many things, without my wanting them to, were taken away from me. I cried, I got angry, I as frustrated...not knowing why? Why would God take these "Good" things out of my life...there was nothing wrong with them..right?
Well that is when the idea of me not knowing what is truly best for me comes in. I don't, only God in his goodness knows what I truly need to grow and what would be best for my soul. Sometimes things that seem harmless are taken out of our lives. Or we are called to step away from a seemingly harmless situation and/or person. But God seems so much more then we do. He knows exactly what is gonna bring us home to his loving arms. He knows that Satan wants to throw you off course, and so we experience many wolves in sheeps clothing.
The thing that draws us closer to acceptance and gives us the openness to say yes to God's will and no to ours is a personal prayer life. It comes down to this, if someone is a stranger to me or even only an aquaintance i will probably be weary to trust them or let them into all aspects of my life. Which is a completely valid reaction. On the other hand the closer I become to a person, the more i learn to open up and trust them with my life. Acceptance is only possible, when relationship with Christ is there. Without the relationship, it is a lot harder to accept someone walking into your house, rearranging all the furniture and then leaving. When I am in relationship with Christ I learn to accept the things I cannot change--His will for me, and ask for the courage to change what I can-- my perspective on the situation.
And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation -- some fact of my life -- unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The Goal is Heaven II
Yesterday I spoke a lot a bout the standing up and speaking up and loving others back to Jesus..
But what crossed my mind this morning was the idea of the fruit of the labor.
I find that most people in this world, sometimes including myself can't to see the fruit of there labors.
Especially when you know how hard you worked, or the heart that you put into it.
It is hard to walk away and just say, God I may never see the fruit, but that is ok, I did my part it's all good.
Well that is definitely easier said then done, especially when it comes to spiritual fruit.
I find that most of the time people will not give, unless they are getting. They hoard there talents, as if they were there's, and always say, okay I will do it, how much will you pay me, what do i get out of this etc.
It is usually not something that people hand out from there own self-lessness.
The fruit of the labor to me is good if I mean to see it, but as scripture says, some sow, some reap--but it is God who makes the growth. So really you or I are merely instruments of his great love for the world. Its like this when you get a job, you are trained to sell clothes so that people find what they need and look great in them. Once you are trained you are let out to make that sale, but also make that person happy. Sometimes people come back and let you know how the dress looked at the party or the shoes felt at the event. But sometimes you hand people there bags, wish them a great day and then well you may never se them again. The bottom line, the big thing to remember is that you did your part. That is all we are called to...we are called to do what God asks of us, but what God does with the labor is for Him to know and you to not always find out.
So it's interesting when we work, especially doing God's work, what is the motivation...His Glory or Ours. Wanting to know the fruit of a situation you have labored in, I think, is a pretty natural reaction. Sooner or later God may reveal truths to you to show you why he conceals what He conceals and reveals what He reveals. I think part of it is to remind us that we are not in charge and also that we are not doing the work we do for fruit, but for and imperishable crown of Glory. Truly for the Glory of God.
But what crossed my mind this morning was the idea of the fruit of the labor.
I find that most people in this world, sometimes including myself can't to see the fruit of there labors.
Especially when you know how hard you worked, or the heart that you put into it.
It is hard to walk away and just say, God I may never see the fruit, but that is ok, I did my part it's all good.
Well that is definitely easier said then done, especially when it comes to spiritual fruit.
I find that most of the time people will not give, unless they are getting. They hoard there talents, as if they were there's, and always say, okay I will do it, how much will you pay me, what do i get out of this etc.
It is usually not something that people hand out from there own self-lessness.
The fruit of the labor to me is good if I mean to see it, but as scripture says, some sow, some reap--but it is God who makes the growth. So really you or I are merely instruments of his great love for the world. Its like this when you get a job, you are trained to sell clothes so that people find what they need and look great in them. Once you are trained you are let out to make that sale, but also make that person happy. Sometimes people come back and let you know how the dress looked at the party or the shoes felt at the event. But sometimes you hand people there bags, wish them a great day and then well you may never se them again. The bottom line, the big thing to remember is that you did your part. That is all we are called to...we are called to do what God asks of us, but what God does with the labor is for Him to know and you to not always find out.
So it's interesting when we work, especially doing God's work, what is the motivation...His Glory or Ours. Wanting to know the fruit of a situation you have labored in, I think, is a pretty natural reaction. Sooner or later God may reveal truths to you to show you why he conceals what He conceals and reveals what He reveals. I think part of it is to remind us that we are not in charge and also that we are not doing the work we do for fruit, but for and imperishable crown of Glory. Truly for the Glory of God.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
The Goal is Heaven..
The most deadly poison of our times is indifference.-- St. Maximilian Kolbe
The goal is heaven, not complacency and indifference--we need to try to act like that is where we want to go!!!
Where do we want to go? Why do we put up with so much from others? Why is it okay for us to watch the sin of the world and the world essentially fall to pieces, but it is not okay, or rather we find it hard to speak up about out faith in Christ? When I think of this concept I think of it as my dear bestest friend. If someone was making fun of her or calling her names or tarnishing her good name--would I not stand up for her no matter what the cost? Would I not fight for her or him even if it meant that the people would not like me? Would I risk my own life for the situation? These are questions that most people, if they have a dear friend, would probably answer yes to. When it comes to defending the faith, the answer is usually, well they have there opinion and i have mine--they can think how they want etc. Now although there is truth in that statement, there is also a bit of moral relativism and indiffence involved.
As a soldier for Christ, I vow to do my best to listen to his prompting through the Holy Spirit. That means, sometimes I am not suppose to sit there and just say, well everyone is entitled to there opinion. Like I said, that is true, but I feel that there are times when we need to speak truth to our brother and sisters who do not know otherwise. We are here to get to heaven--that does not mean that I act good and I get there--that means I am a follower of Christ, that means if the King commands I follow. Sometimes it is scary to speak up and I have been there as well, but as a priest said to me one time, "the Holy Spirit is working through all of us, not just you. So if you are prompted to say something to someone, God is moving in that other person as well." That really woke me up in a totally different way.
What is blowing my mind these days are the men and woman I meet who claim that they are Christians, specifically Catholic, but do not live that way at all. One thing I know for sure for myself is that I cannot live one way and act another. The more I have sat and listened to these people the more i have come to realize the holes they have in there understanding of Christ Jesus. They see all the doctrines and "rules" etc, but completely miss out on the LOVE. I was driving home one day and just thought, I want to start a revolution--its time to bring people to an understanding of TRUE LOVE. The only way I have been able to do that is by loving them exactly where they are at. Since the relationship is missing, it is the hole, then giving them the relationship is the key to bring them back to the understanding of what they have abandoned.
We love people back to Jesus. People are usually amazed at the fact that anyone single person could look at them and love them for themselves. This is our Call as Catholics...not to so much convert and stand up for our faith--but to love!!! We are called to be universal--that is what Catholic Means. It does not mean superior religion, or religion with rules--it means Universal. What is it to be Universal? For me it means, I am called to love my neighbor as myself. It means love as Christ has loved us--by dying for each other, sacrificing time for love of souls. Just listening can be a sacrifice! Some people have no one to listen to them.
That is what they need, to feel loved again. We live in a society that does not know how to love. We have taken love out of the equation of life because love requires suffering and pain and we try our best as a society to stay away from that. A lot of times you hear people talk about the "lack of love" here or there...the reality is, there is not a lack of love--there is not a proper understanding of Love...so true love is non-existent!
As for standing up for Christ, there are those moments within these loving moments to stand up for the faith. To speak truth to our brothers and sisters. That is love too. To be able to call our brothers and sisters out to holiness. Our call to as Christians is to make sure that the souls that have been entrusted in our care are held accountable as long as God has them in our paths. If anything we are called to pray for each other. As St Francis said, "Preach the Gospel always and when necessary use words."
God is calling you and I to a basic concept LOVE! I must first love God with everything I am -- so that I can be everything that he has designed for me to be. Then I must take that love and Love my neighbor the way that I long to be loved. If we know the love of God truly in our hearts, that love is simple--"We love until it hurts, and then when it hurts, we love some more." --Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
The goal is heaven, not complacency and indifference--we need to try to act like that is where we want to go!!!
Where do we want to go? Why do we put up with so much from others? Why is it okay for us to watch the sin of the world and the world essentially fall to pieces, but it is not okay, or rather we find it hard to speak up about out faith in Christ? When I think of this concept I think of it as my dear bestest friend. If someone was making fun of her or calling her names or tarnishing her good name--would I not stand up for her no matter what the cost? Would I not fight for her or him even if it meant that the people would not like me? Would I risk my own life for the situation? These are questions that most people, if they have a dear friend, would probably answer yes to. When it comes to defending the faith, the answer is usually, well they have there opinion and i have mine--they can think how they want etc. Now although there is truth in that statement, there is also a bit of moral relativism and indiffence involved.
As a soldier for Christ, I vow to do my best to listen to his prompting through the Holy Spirit. That means, sometimes I am not suppose to sit there and just say, well everyone is entitled to there opinion. Like I said, that is true, but I feel that there are times when we need to speak truth to our brother and sisters who do not know otherwise. We are here to get to heaven--that does not mean that I act good and I get there--that means I am a follower of Christ, that means if the King commands I follow. Sometimes it is scary to speak up and I have been there as well, but as a priest said to me one time, "the Holy Spirit is working through all of us, not just you. So if you are prompted to say something to someone, God is moving in that other person as well." That really woke me up in a totally different way.
What is blowing my mind these days are the men and woman I meet who claim that they are Christians, specifically Catholic, but do not live that way at all. One thing I know for sure for myself is that I cannot live one way and act another. The more I have sat and listened to these people the more i have come to realize the holes they have in there understanding of Christ Jesus. They see all the doctrines and "rules" etc, but completely miss out on the LOVE. I was driving home one day and just thought, I want to start a revolution--its time to bring people to an understanding of TRUE LOVE. The only way I have been able to do that is by loving them exactly where they are at. Since the relationship is missing, it is the hole, then giving them the relationship is the key to bring them back to the understanding of what they have abandoned.
We love people back to Jesus. People are usually amazed at the fact that anyone single person could look at them and love them for themselves. This is our Call as Catholics...not to so much convert and stand up for our faith--but to love!!! We are called to be universal--that is what Catholic Means. It does not mean superior religion, or religion with rules--it means Universal. What is it to be Universal? For me it means, I am called to love my neighbor as myself. It means love as Christ has loved us--by dying for each other, sacrificing time for love of souls. Just listening can be a sacrifice! Some people have no one to listen to them.
That is what they need, to feel loved again. We live in a society that does not know how to love. We have taken love out of the equation of life because love requires suffering and pain and we try our best as a society to stay away from that. A lot of times you hear people talk about the "lack of love" here or there...the reality is, there is not a lack of love--there is not a proper understanding of Love...so true love is non-existent!
As for standing up for Christ, there are those moments within these loving moments to stand up for the faith. To speak truth to our brothers and sisters. That is love too. To be able to call our brothers and sisters out to holiness. Our call to as Christians is to make sure that the souls that have been entrusted in our care are held accountable as long as God has them in our paths. If anything we are called to pray for each other. As St Francis said, "Preach the Gospel always and when necessary use words."
God is calling you and I to a basic concept LOVE! I must first love God with everything I am -- so that I can be everything that he has designed for me to be. Then I must take that love and Love my neighbor the way that I long to be loved. If we know the love of God truly in our hearts, that love is simple--"We love until it hurts, and then when it hurts, we love some more." --Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Just to See you Smile...
A smile confuses an approaching frown. ~Author Unknown
So today I walked into Starbucks and the people there greeted me with a smile. I am sort of a familiar face to them..hee hee. Anyway, there was a girl there who I had never seen before and she was the most enthusiastic of them all. I was happy to see that because I got some zeal for life myself. Well I was taken back and as she and were laughing and joking she proceeded to tell me this story.
She said one day she was working and that she greeted a customer very happily and she was then asked by the customer, if Starbucks required them to smile. Like it was part of procedure to do so. Now i heard this and it stirred something in me that has always annoyed me and that is people do not find joy in life anymore. The simplicity of life. The simple joy of living. There is no spark in people that automatically places a smile on there faces. People are shocked by joy. This is a strange concept to me.
Growing up people would ask if something was wrong with me. People would ask when I was at parties if I was drunk. No one could ever fathom that someone's heart, like mine could truly just be filled with joy. We have lost the art of living and have become robots to a apathetic society. We are only happy when we get something from someone, or a situation. True Joy is basking in joy itself. Is finding joy in the giving and not the getting.
I guess it drives me crazy that this generation coming up has lost its excitement. They are known as the "whatever generation". They are the generation that has been numbed out by gadgets and gizmos and being over stimulated too early in life. There was not a gradual progression to there wonderment. It just all snowballed and now we have kids who have seen it all and very possibly done it all before they were old enough to drive. Its funny my friend and I were talking one day and we are the same age of 31. She asked me, "in high school what was your main focus outside of school?" I said," what was gonna be on TV that weekend, guys and my friends and hanging out." She said, "yeah know, me too. It was definitely not having a baby."
I thought Amen to that. Wow, to think that instead of teaching our kids that we need to wait until you get married to have sex and then have a family and basically teach them otherwise, we give them a TV show or birth control. The interesting part is that once you have been exposed to so much too soon, nothing simple is enough. I find that as I attend school amongst students who are much younger than me. I will laugh, or see the humor or excitement in things, while they will sit there and look at me like I have two heads.
What is funny is that I am not angry or upset, but it makes me sad for them that they cannot smile for no reason and find joy in life, no matter if it is going there way or not. This generation is being taught to blame and not to take the blame. They are taught to walk away and not work it out. They are being taught that hurting and suffering are bad things that need to be avoided at all costs and that pleasure and what I want are worth all my time and energy. There is a distortion of truth here. It's no wonder Christ on the Cross is scary today--there is pain, suffering, and sacrifice on that cross...all things that are being taught to be avoided. Without truth being given to them, this society learns to be complacent and unenthusiastic. They learn to ask people if they are required to smile. They have to question true joy, because they have never really seen it before.
I feel that when I can look at myself and laugh, when I can die to myself for the Love of God, when I can look at myself and forgive myself for making mistakes--that is true JOY! When I can see my imperfection and embrace the truth in that--there is JOY. When I can look and see that other people live in this world around me and I am here to love and serve them as my brothers and sisters--TRUE JOY. When I can look at the beauty of nature and colors of fall in wonder and awe. When I can look at a baby and see how careful God was in making me...truly then, in that moment, I can experience a GREAT JOY. A joy that can only come from one source--GOD--truth itself!!
So today I walked into Starbucks and the people there greeted me with a smile. I am sort of a familiar face to them..hee hee. Anyway, there was a girl there who I had never seen before and she was the most enthusiastic of them all. I was happy to see that because I got some zeal for life myself. Well I was taken back and as she and were laughing and joking she proceeded to tell me this story.
She said one day she was working and that she greeted a customer very happily and she was then asked by the customer, if Starbucks required them to smile. Like it was part of procedure to do so. Now i heard this and it stirred something in me that has always annoyed me and that is people do not find joy in life anymore. The simplicity of life. The simple joy of living. There is no spark in people that automatically places a smile on there faces. People are shocked by joy. This is a strange concept to me.
Growing up people would ask if something was wrong with me. People would ask when I was at parties if I was drunk. No one could ever fathom that someone's heart, like mine could truly just be filled with joy. We have lost the art of living and have become robots to a apathetic society. We are only happy when we get something from someone, or a situation. True Joy is basking in joy itself. Is finding joy in the giving and not the getting.
I guess it drives me crazy that this generation coming up has lost its excitement. They are known as the "whatever generation". They are the generation that has been numbed out by gadgets and gizmos and being over stimulated too early in life. There was not a gradual progression to there wonderment. It just all snowballed and now we have kids who have seen it all and very possibly done it all before they were old enough to drive. Its funny my friend and I were talking one day and we are the same age of 31. She asked me, "in high school what was your main focus outside of school?" I said," what was gonna be on TV that weekend, guys and my friends and hanging out." She said, "yeah know, me too. It was definitely not having a baby."
I thought Amen to that. Wow, to think that instead of teaching our kids that we need to wait until you get married to have sex and then have a family and basically teach them otherwise, we give them a TV show or birth control. The interesting part is that once you have been exposed to so much too soon, nothing simple is enough. I find that as I attend school amongst students who are much younger than me. I will laugh, or see the humor or excitement in things, while they will sit there and look at me like I have two heads.
What is funny is that I am not angry or upset, but it makes me sad for them that they cannot smile for no reason and find joy in life, no matter if it is going there way or not. This generation is being taught to blame and not to take the blame. They are taught to walk away and not work it out. They are being taught that hurting and suffering are bad things that need to be avoided at all costs and that pleasure and what I want are worth all my time and energy. There is a distortion of truth here. It's no wonder Christ on the Cross is scary today--there is pain, suffering, and sacrifice on that cross...all things that are being taught to be avoided. Without truth being given to them, this society learns to be complacent and unenthusiastic. They learn to ask people if they are required to smile. They have to question true joy, because they have never really seen it before.
I feel that when I can look at myself and laugh, when I can die to myself for the Love of God, when I can look at myself and forgive myself for making mistakes--that is true JOY! When I can see my imperfection and embrace the truth in that--there is JOY. When I can look and see that other people live in this world around me and I am here to love and serve them as my brothers and sisters--TRUE JOY. When I can look at the beauty of nature and colors of fall in wonder and awe. When I can look at a baby and see how careful God was in making me...truly then, in that moment, I can experience a GREAT JOY. A joy that can only come from one source--GOD--truth itself!!
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
I Walk the line...
You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line
--Johnny Cash
I feel like I tend to walk a very different road then people in my life that I encounter day in and day out. A road that I could have ever thought up on my own but that was chosen for me as the best thing for me.
We hear it said it certain Churches, "have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?" As cliche as that line has become there is so much truth in it. That question most people freak out about. Why? Because they feel they are about to get bombarded with "Jesus Talk". Which there notion could very well be true! LOL BUt in reality it is a valid question that can be broken down to be a bit more understanding and could even stand to be more intimidating. In fact, saying, "have you accepted Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior" is putting it lightly.
When I think of that Question I think to my myself about what that is really saying. This is what I hear:
--Have you surrendered your will and life to God?
--Are you ready give up the things in your life that will lead you on the road to perdition?
--Have you learned to accept that life comes with ups and downs and that we need to accept downs as well as the ups as gifts that have so much fruit to give us?
--are you ready to embrace your cross, splinters and all so as to grow in greater love of Christ?
--Are you ready to be called to greater things and essentially "man up" when no one else will?
--are you ready to be persecuted for doing what is right?
--are you ready to truly say and live the words: He's God, I'm not
--Are you ready for the greater prize that does not exist on this Earth?
--Are you ready to live in eternity with the One who is eternity itself?
--are you ready to be loved like you never have been?
Then come to the waters of life--deny yourself and take up your cross!!
Now do you see why the first question is so much easier then the many that that first one really means.
Although something within people freaks out when they hear the name of Jesus--That name means responsibility to these people. They hear the name and just know that they are not ready to give up the self-willed life they have. They are not ready to be free from the pleasures of the sins that shackle them. They see a life with Christ as a form of slavery. I hear people say. you Catholics and all your rules. I hear that all the time. What I think is so interesting is the thought of the fact that it is my sin that keeps me shackled and a slave. It is my sin that keeps me ashamed and in fear. It is my slavery to sin that keeps me desiring a place on this earth.
It is my deep knowledge and embrace of Christ's love for me that frees me from fear. It is that love that died for me and that set me free from the dire consequence of sin--death! It is that Love that transforms me, day in and day out and guides me to truly be love to those who have never been loved.
There is no slavery in Christ, other then the slavery of me belonging completely to him and being at his eternal service. I don't necessarily call that slavery...I call that LOVE.
As I walk along this path to holiness, that is a gift, the world gets bigger, the road gets narrower and the people along the path are fewer and fewer. Why? Because this life is not easy...walking sometimes is not the problem, not even the falling down that is the hard part, the hard part is the continual stripping and transformation that happens along the road. That's the stuff that burns away who you are, to make you who are meant to become. That is what separates the men from the boys. That is day to day trials and growing in virtue that needs to take place. Oh man, this is the hard stuff....this is the stuff that if not rooted enough in God's love through a personal prayer life etc--will make you question what you are doing this all for...in some cases people leave. Of course they leave...when there is no relationship, there is no point!
I have my moments still...the "is it all worth it" moments...and it is...Its just hard to see when all the people you know who are not "living it right" so to speak, are getting everything handed to them, and I am not gonna lie, that can be frustrating when you know that the way they got it was shady, or that you know that you work hard to be the woman that God is calling you to be...but in the end..we have something that is far more reaching then this earth and this life. We know that we are loved. We don't need to spend our time reaching for perishable food. We know where to go to be fed, and we know who to go to to get fed.
Going back to what I had mentioned about the world getting bigger, but there are less people on it. That is quite a big struggle, people don't want to keep walking and so when you do say things to people they look at you like, "yeah I hear you, but I am not sure I understand." well how can you? When you are in love and you are in a relationship, how is anyone to understand what it is like unless they are on that walk too. And just because you are in a relationship does not mean you are in love either. There are many people who walk along this path to God who want nothing of the intimacy that He has to offer us. They just want the rules and what they need to do. Now think about it, if I am in a relationship like that with my friends, first of all it would be boring and second it would not last very long, because when the going got tough...I got the heck out!
I find that as I walk a long this path to holiness I will meet many people along the way who are attracted to me and want to hang out...but that actually get in the way of my moving forward.
As I walk this road, people come in and people come out. There are people who are attracted to the way you are walking, they are drawn to it and amazed by it--they just don't want to walk with you through it all. They are still way to big in there world and so the sacrifice is too great. There are the few and I say few, because it does not happen often, but there are the few who you find who just "get it". They are there to be your running buddies...they are there to cheer you on. They are there to remind you of why you are walking. They are there to support you and for you to support them. There is an equality in support because there is an equality in the goal sought. It is a beautiful gift when found. Until then the road to Our Lord is walked without many, but with He always at your side. Guiding you and urging you on. It is Love that does the urging, it is the gravity of the soul that stretches and molds us to keep moving. It is love a lone that matters. You've got a way to keep me on your side. You give me cause for love that I can't hide.
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line
--Johnny Cash
I feel like I tend to walk a very different road then people in my life that I encounter day in and day out. A road that I could have ever thought up on my own but that was chosen for me as the best thing for me.
We hear it said it certain Churches, "have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior?" As cliche as that line has become there is so much truth in it. That question most people freak out about. Why? Because they feel they are about to get bombarded with "Jesus Talk". Which there notion could very well be true! LOL BUt in reality it is a valid question that can be broken down to be a bit more understanding and could even stand to be more intimidating. In fact, saying, "have you accepted Jesus Christ to be your personal Lord and Savior" is putting it lightly.
When I think of that Question I think to my myself about what that is really saying. This is what I hear:
--Have you surrendered your will and life to God?
--Are you ready give up the things in your life that will lead you on the road to perdition?
--Have you learned to accept that life comes with ups and downs and that we need to accept downs as well as the ups as gifts that have so much fruit to give us?
--are you ready to embrace your cross, splinters and all so as to grow in greater love of Christ?
--Are you ready to be called to greater things and essentially "man up" when no one else will?
--are you ready to be persecuted for doing what is right?
--are you ready to truly say and live the words: He's God, I'm not
--Are you ready for the greater prize that does not exist on this Earth?
--Are you ready to live in eternity with the One who is eternity itself?
--are you ready to be loved like you never have been?
Then come to the waters of life--deny yourself and take up your cross!!
Now do you see why the first question is so much easier then the many that that first one really means.
Although something within people freaks out when they hear the name of Jesus--That name means responsibility to these people. They hear the name and just know that they are not ready to give up the self-willed life they have. They are not ready to be free from the pleasures of the sins that shackle them. They see a life with Christ as a form of slavery. I hear people say. you Catholics and all your rules. I hear that all the time. What I think is so interesting is the thought of the fact that it is my sin that keeps me shackled and a slave. It is my sin that keeps me ashamed and in fear. It is my slavery to sin that keeps me desiring a place on this earth.
It is my deep knowledge and embrace of Christ's love for me that frees me from fear. It is that love that died for me and that set me free from the dire consequence of sin--death! It is that Love that transforms me, day in and day out and guides me to truly be love to those who have never been loved.
There is no slavery in Christ, other then the slavery of me belonging completely to him and being at his eternal service. I don't necessarily call that slavery...I call that LOVE.
As I walk along this path to holiness, that is a gift, the world gets bigger, the road gets narrower and the people along the path are fewer and fewer. Why? Because this life is not easy...walking sometimes is not the problem, not even the falling down that is the hard part, the hard part is the continual stripping and transformation that happens along the road. That's the stuff that burns away who you are, to make you who are meant to become. That is what separates the men from the boys. That is day to day trials and growing in virtue that needs to take place. Oh man, this is the hard stuff....this is the stuff that if not rooted enough in God's love through a personal prayer life etc--will make you question what you are doing this all for...in some cases people leave. Of course they leave...when there is no relationship, there is no point!
I have my moments still...the "is it all worth it" moments...and it is...Its just hard to see when all the people you know who are not "living it right" so to speak, are getting everything handed to them, and I am not gonna lie, that can be frustrating when you know that the way they got it was shady, or that you know that you work hard to be the woman that God is calling you to be...but in the end..we have something that is far more reaching then this earth and this life. We know that we are loved. We don't need to spend our time reaching for perishable food. We know where to go to be fed, and we know who to go to to get fed.
Going back to what I had mentioned about the world getting bigger, but there are less people on it. That is quite a big struggle, people don't want to keep walking and so when you do say things to people they look at you like, "yeah I hear you, but I am not sure I understand." well how can you? When you are in love and you are in a relationship, how is anyone to understand what it is like unless they are on that walk too. And just because you are in a relationship does not mean you are in love either. There are many people who walk along this path to God who want nothing of the intimacy that He has to offer us. They just want the rules and what they need to do. Now think about it, if I am in a relationship like that with my friends, first of all it would be boring and second it would not last very long, because when the going got tough...I got the heck out!
I find that as I walk a long this path to holiness I will meet many people along the way who are attracted to me and want to hang out...but that actually get in the way of my moving forward.
As I walk this road, people come in and people come out. There are people who are attracted to the way you are walking, they are drawn to it and amazed by it--they just don't want to walk with you through it all. They are still way to big in there world and so the sacrifice is too great. There are the few and I say few, because it does not happen often, but there are the few who you find who just "get it". They are there to be your running buddies...they are there to cheer you on. They are there to remind you of why you are walking. They are there to support you and for you to support them. There is an equality in support because there is an equality in the goal sought. It is a beautiful gift when found. Until then the road to Our Lord is walked without many, but with He always at your side. Guiding you and urging you on. It is Love that does the urging, it is the gravity of the soul that stretches and molds us to keep moving. It is love a lone that matters. You've got a way to keep me on your side. You give me cause for love that I can't hide.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Suffering
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church. (Col 1:24)
Suffering, why must we do so? I mean we live in a world filled with comforts and medicines and all sorts of goods. Why must we suffer then? What is so important about us suffering? I think that we suffer so as to feel. I always think about the fact that in a long time in my life I did nothing but try to dodge suffering and by that I mean I could not embrace it. It was there, I just had a hard time accepting that I had to be the one to go through it. Why me? That was the question I asked and the question that most people ask in that situation. Why? I began reading about the lives of the saints. I love the saints because they are saints so that we know that it is possible to be as well! As i read about them I noticed that they were not void of suffering. In fact, they suffered greatly and intensely and always with a smile! Why? They realized for themselves that there suffering was not a punishment. I think that is what most of us feel when we suffer, what did i do to get here? Am I paying for something that I have done?
A punishment is something that is given for wrongs done. Suffering is pain, it’s unpleasant, but it is not necessarily given for wrong done, but rather for strength that necessary for the journey ahead.
Christ said, “to much is given much is to be expected.” This rings true in suffering. Why are the saints filled with joy at there suffering because they have been given much strength to endure it. “I can do all things in Christ who has strengthened me.” Amen. Ain’t that the truth. I know when I try to do things on my own nothing seems to work out. That is because i am trying to produce a particular outcome. The outcome being that I will not die or have to go through anymore of the suffering. The fact is we our powerless over our sufferings. The only thing that we can control is the way that we perceive it.
Suffering, if we allow it to be can and will be an asset to us. We must embrace our trials for they will be our strengths in the long run. As Christ said in Luke 24, “Was it not necessary for the son of man to suffer and die so he could enter into His glory.” That is it, the Glory; the resurrection, the hope! But before we rise, we must learn to die.
Christ must be put back on the cross so that we can remember what was done for us, that we may always be grateful and that we may long to share in the pains that Christ Himself endured for you and me.
Suffering, why must we do so? I mean we live in a world filled with comforts and medicines and all sorts of goods. Why must we suffer then? What is so important about us suffering? I think that we suffer so as to feel. I always think about the fact that in a long time in my life I did nothing but try to dodge suffering and by that I mean I could not embrace it. It was there, I just had a hard time accepting that I had to be the one to go through it. Why me? That was the question I asked and the question that most people ask in that situation. Why? I began reading about the lives of the saints. I love the saints because they are saints so that we know that it is possible to be as well! As i read about them I noticed that they were not void of suffering. In fact, they suffered greatly and intensely and always with a smile! Why? They realized for themselves that there suffering was not a punishment. I think that is what most of us feel when we suffer, what did i do to get here? Am I paying for something that I have done?
A punishment is something that is given for wrongs done. Suffering is pain, it’s unpleasant, but it is not necessarily given for wrong done, but rather for strength that necessary for the journey ahead.
Christ said, “to much is given much is to be expected.” This rings true in suffering. Why are the saints filled with joy at there suffering because they have been given much strength to endure it. “I can do all things in Christ who has strengthened me.” Amen. Ain’t that the truth. I know when I try to do things on my own nothing seems to work out. That is because i am trying to produce a particular outcome. The outcome being that I will not die or have to go through anymore of the suffering. The fact is we our powerless over our sufferings. The only thing that we can control is the way that we perceive it.
Suffering, if we allow it to be can and will be an asset to us. We must embrace our trials for they will be our strengths in the long run. As Christ said in Luke 24, “Was it not necessary for the son of man to suffer and die so he could enter into His glory.” That is it, the Glory; the resurrection, the hope! But before we rise, we must learn to die.
Christ must be put back on the cross so that we can remember what was done for us, that we may always be grateful and that we may long to share in the pains that Christ Himself endured for you and me.
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