When stretched beyond your limits, what do you do?

If you’re anything like me, there are times in your life when you’re feeling battered by all the people, issues, or ideas that are demanding your attention?  Whether it’s the family activities, work obligations, social expectations, religious or personal demands, economic or political pressures, there can be no doubt that all of us are often under a great deal of pressure to give our attention and commitment to a wide variety of people and issues.  It takes great stamina and wisdom from above to evaluate and balance all the expectations that are placed upon us.

When we try to evaluate, balance and respond to the many pressures and demands in our life, what measure do we use?  How do we decide, among all the clamoring demands, which is worthy of our attention and what kind of response will bring life?

There is a famous passage from the Letter of James in the New Testament that describes some important ways to measure what will be a life-giving response.  James tells us that ”the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.” (James 3:17-18).

Sometimes the beliefs we cherish and the things we pursue fill us with anger and judgment about others.  We become cynical and untrusting.  We can even become hardened to the concerns of others and unwilling to acknowledge their sincerity.  If we find ourselves locked into these feelings, it’s time to reassess our attitudes and commitments.  For James reminds us that the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit nourishes peace and gentleness within us, mercy toward others, and self-gift so others can thrive.

So, if we’re wondering what kind of response the Lord want from us, just do a quick check on whether our response engenders kindness and peace, or anger and suspicion.  Then remember the advice of James.  May the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit guide us all.

 

Reflection Copyright 2018 by Fr. Michael Higgins C.P.
Photograph Copyright 2018 by Michael J. Cunningham O.F.S.

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Is God really watching?…and what does God see?

When I was a kid, my parents would sometimes remind me, “Remember, God is watching you!  God sees you.”  Were you ever told that?  I’ll bet you were.  As I look back on those occasions, and even now when someone says something like that to me, I realize that I often took those words as something of a threat.  “God is watching!”   So, even if there was no one else to see what I did wrong, God would.  How about you?  What do you think of when someone tells you, “God sees everything you do?”  Do you think that means that God is keeping track of all your sins or failures, that nothing bad you do no matter how secretly you do it, avoids God’s notice?  Or do you include your successes in the meaning of that statement?
Apparently, our common concern that God makes sure to keep track of the bad things we do was a fairly common belief even in the earliest days of the Church.  I say that because there’s an interesting passage on this very topic in the Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament.  In the 6^th Chapter (verse 10) the author writes “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated….”  The author to the Hebrews clearly wants everyone who reads this letter (including us) to know that, indeed, God is watching.  But that means that God notes primarily the “love you have demonstrated.”  God is paying close attention to the good that we do.  No threat there, just a reassuring promise.
The consistent message of the Scriptures is that God is reaching out to us to give us the fullness of life, not to bring us restrictions or death.  So often we let fear or other people keep us locked up and wary.  Knowing that God is indeed watching us should encourage us to live with open hearts and great confidence in God’s presence with us and His great love for us.
What do you understand by the claim that “God is watching you”?
Are you grateful for God’s notice or uncomfortable with the idea?
What are some of the things about yourself that you hope God is noticing?

Reflection © 2018 by Michael Higgins C.P.

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GOD CALLING

In his book, Spiritual Direction according to Paul of the Cross, Bennet Kelly, C.P. suggests that,
“Anxieties and inner disturbances usually come from the inner attitudes of heart, past programming, past hurts which are not totally conformed to God’s holy will, past habits which have developed from that programming, and past hurts which have not been worked through to peace.” (p.85)
He goes on to say that, “They are like God’s messages to us telling us we need to do something” (p.85) Much has been written about the way God speaks to us through our feelings, inviting us to deeper and greater healing and transformation. In their book, “Rediscovering the Lost Body-Connection with Christian Spirituality, Edwin M. McMahon, Ph.D and Peter A. Campbell, Ph.D use the example of the telephone when they suggest, “Feelings are like the phone ringing. A message is trying to get through.” (p.7) Further, they offer that our old habits of blocking messages kick in. “People respond to the ring of their feelings by turning on the TV, music or pouring themselves a drink.” (p.7)
As we go along our daily lives, we do not often have the luxury to stop and take stock and ask ourselves, “What do I need to hear”? So often the noise of our lives drowns out that inner voice. Its as if we reject or discard the very thing that will bring us clarity, healing and peace. Dare I suggest that our anxieties are a gift? A gift which comes disguised as an invitation to deeper understanding of ourselves and God—to transformation. Do you find that you block messages? Make excuses and avoid sitting down or slowing down enough to hear something new?
John O’Donohue offers us the following wisdom, “When the mind is festering with trouble or the heart torn, we can find healing among the silence of mountains or fields, or listen to the simple, steadying rhythm of waves. The slowness and stillness gradually takes us over. Our breathing deepens, and our hearts calm and our hungers relent. When serenity is restored, new perspectives open to us and difficulty can begin to seem like an invitation to new growth.” (Excerpts from Divine Beauty FB post 9/2/18)
St. Paul of the Cross would say that these disturbances are like crosses which must be taken up. As always, the cross leads to new life as reflected in the above paragraph. It is a process of slowing down, of listening; and YOU as well as those you love are ultimately well worth the effort!
Yet, we know this is hard work, it takes faith and a total act of surrender on our part. Again, St. Paul of the Cross taught that in times like this we turn our thoughts to the Passion of Jesus. He will companion us through these opportunities for growth. We will learn from him. So, what are you waiting for?
May the Passion of Jesus Christ by Always in Our Hearts, amen.

Nicodemus and Me (Inspired by Nicodemus and his growing relationship with Jesus in John’s Gospel)
We come at night because
that is all we can do.
Dawn is always the promise.
We wait anxiously and with trepidation.
What does this mean?
What do I need to do?
How can I do it?
Do I want to change?
See, Lord, your servant
struggles at this threshold.
Is dawn arriving soon?
How long is this night of unknowing?
Enter the tomb where He lays..
Barely a toe gets through
the doorway and
every fiber, every atom
of my being is alive.
Feel the powerful dynamism.
Elements swirl around me.
Hope, fulfillment, finished, begun…
Words beyond my language
settle all around me.
Intimate, searing, committed Love
draws me in even as I
want to flee.
Wash me clean of debris.
May there be nothing left of me but you.
Love has done this.
Dawn has arrived.

Photograph and Reflection © 2018 by Jean Bowler

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Grace Abounds!
A couple of years ago, many of our pine trees on our grounds became victim to the California drought. One of the pine trees in the upper parking lot was next in line to go. When Charles, our security and hospitality person, came to know about it, he offered to take care of it. To begin with, he told me later, he would hug the tree and water it on permitted watering days. Three weeks into watering with gentle care and love, the tree began to show signs of green!
The world expects a lot from us. We ought to perform, bring in results… else you are fired! At times our hard work does not pay off as it should. What often follows for many of us is despair, desolation, discouragement, anxiety and stress. So, when the chips are down in our personal or professional lives, a little nudge, a word of encouragement, a pat on the back, can work wonders!
This is also true of our spiritual life. Our souls tend to “dry up” and become “unproductive.” We become like “children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming.” (Eph. 4:14) There is this mysterious connection between the events of our life and the inner soul.
However, St. Paul reminds us that Grace abounds and supersedes everything. God never gives up on us; rather He provides us opportunities to bounce back. He is patient and treats his children with utmost care and compassion. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we can get so engaged in our lives that we may very well fail to see God reaching out to us on a daily basis.
For our part, we need to keep our eyes and ears open to the opportunities God continuously offers us to come back to him. He is always there with open arms to welcome and embrace us. So, where do I see God’s grace nudging me, encouraging me, or patting me on the back? How am I invited to use God’s grace to make choices that can be life-giving to me and my relationship with God and others?

What gives me the most hope every day is God’s grace;
knowing that his grace is going to give me
the strength for whatever I face,
knowing that nothing is a surprise to God.
~ Rick Warren

Reflection and photograph © 2018 by Fr. Bruno D’Souza C.P.

MOMENTS OF CALM

Sometimes, not that often, we get to experience the feeling our life is drifting on. Not out of control, like Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, but rather ebbing to and fro like the ocean tide.
I must admit not having experienced this feeling myself for very long. Personally, I am a bit of meddler, and even if things are going along smoothly, will always be seeking some new challenge, excitement or meaning in what is happening. Occasionally though, the wonder of just “being” comes over me in a daily routine and that wondrous drifting effect then descends on me.
Moments and experiences like this are the downtime and peace we can enjoy merely resting in Christ. There are the reassurances we need when turmoil has been surrounding the hours and we are called to take a walk on the beach; metaphorically speaking at least.
These calming moments are often given to us as a gift, something occurs which causes us to move into “neutral” neither moving forward or backward, just sitting where we are. The references to these moments are multifold in scripture, as is the many times where God just calls us to do the same. To remain in Him.
I was talking to a friend this week about a contemplative retreat where they experienced centering prayer, then a silent walk in the gardens and a second silent centering prayer session to follow. This contemplative “sandwich” made me recognize how much a walk somewhere without agenda, purpose or even intention can be a wonderful way of experiencing a drifting prayer. Have you ever experienced a “drifting prayer”? How did it feel?
Where the encounter happens is timeless because we are not focused on timing the event. Just the desire to rest in Him.

TOWARDS THE LIGHT

Moving from the gray to the light seemed inevitable;
As the darkness dissipates as if it was never there.
And eyes adjust to a new way of looking;
Squeezing the daylight out once more.

Leaving the dark place behind.