Rest

The Lord can be found and life can blossom
in His presence.

I find the things I obsess about are usually irrelevant. It is a waste of time to worry so much about the things that trouble so.

If we are obsessed about something, the focus is usually on ourselves.If we are not focused on God, then we have wasted our time. Since He put us here to discover His immanence and to be immersed in Him as in the finest ointment or best vintage wine. But it isn't even about that. Being so concerned that we focus on ourselves means we are not focused on God and have wasted our time not using the gifts that reveal Him to people who are in love with Him.

Such love is hardly passive or to be found in frenzy. That is why He continually invites us to the Garden of His presence. The desert fathers were not focused on penance without good reason, nor were their exercises arbitrary and mindlessly mechanical. The love in them which urged them to be penitential was alive and real and active. That we participate in such moments must give us a clue to how important it is that He should invite us in the first place.

The contemplative consolations I received were deeper than awareness, and were full of refreshment and energy, so that whatever I did, was more meaningful than I realized. In the end, I was never denied consolation when it was needed, His consolation was a share of His love that was meant to enhance the spark of my life, and to produce from within me, a peace that produce rest for those who were willing to pray with me.

In another life, I might have been a parish priest whose love was the Mass and the Eucharist, forever giving thanks to God, and finding my life, rest and nourishment in Him. 

But I am a hermit who is hardly hidden away in a cave, but whose solitude is seldom interrupted by a visit from anyone.

The world can still make its presence felt whether I want it or not. The gifts God gives a hermit are nourishment of soul for other people, health, life and refreshment for busy lives by my presence in the world. Perhaps the world is starving for the love God puts in a hermit, perhaps that is why there are so many now, legitimate or spurious. By their fruits you will know them.

If in life, you discover a person who is spiritually like a spring of cool water, that person might be a hermit without knowing it. You might ask yourself if encounters with others were refreshing or nourishing, and if not, ask yourself where you were in that moment. A hermit strives to be always mindful of the Lord, and focused on Him without self concern. His presence where he is is no mistake and it was not coincidental, but part of the plan of God, who knows exactly where and exactly with whom you were. 

Being present to God in this world is difficult so long as we are self centered creatures. Eventually it is possible to be less self concerned and more eager to be in the presence of the Lord, because once we are no longer centered in His consolations, He certainly does make Himself known to a person He has called and consecrated. That consecration, by the way, produces a tendency to focus on God instead of self, for by our being focused on God we can change the world, however slightly, to be a better and more peaceful place. When there is resistance to a spiritual person on the part of others, whether religious or clerical, it is not of God, even though He can certainly use the friction for the sanctification of his soul. 

My advice is to not bother a hermit who seems legitimate on the basis of his demeanor. In all things, the just tend to want to heal and perfect others so they may enjoy the happiness of the Lord. To hinder that work is hardly bright.

Rest

The Lord can be found and life can blossom
in His presence.

I find the things I obsess about are usually irrelevant. It is a waste of time to worry so much about the things that trouble so.

If we are obsessed about something, the focus is usually on ourselves.If we are not focused on God, then we have wasted our time. Since He put us here to discover His immanence and to be immersed in Him as in the finest ointment or best vintage wine. But it isn't even about that. Being so concerned that we focus on ourselves means we are not focused on God and have wasted our time not using the gifts that reveal Him to people who are in love with Him.

Such love is hardly passive or to be found in frenzy. That is why He continually invites us to the Garden of His presence. The desert fathers were not focused on penance without good reason, nor were their exercises arbitrary and mindlessly mechanical. The love in them which urged them to be penitential was alive and real and active. That we participate in such moments must give us a clue to how important it is that He should invite us in the first place.

The contemplative consolations I received were deeper than awareness, and were full of refreshment and energy, so that whatever I did, was more meaningful than I realized. In the end, I was never denied consolation when it was needed, His consolation was a share of His love that was meant to enhance the spark of my life, and to produce from within me, a peace that produce rest for those who were willing to pray with me.

In another life, I might have been a parish priest whose love was the Mass and the Eucharist, forever giving thanks to God, and finding my life, rest and nourishment in Him. 

But I am a hermit who is hardly hidden away in a cave, but whose solitude is seldom interrupted by a visit from anyone.

The world can still make its presence felt whether I want it or not. The gifts God gives a hermit are nourishment of soul for other people, health, life and refreshment for busy lives by my presence in the world. Perhaps the world is starving for the love God puts in a hermit, perhaps that is why there are so many now, legitimate or spurious. By their fruits you will know them.

If in life, you discover a person who is spiritually like a spring of cool water, that person might be a hermit without knowing it. You might ask yourself if encounters with others were refreshing or nourishing, and if not, ask yourself where you were in that moment. A hermit strives to be always mindful of the Lord, and focused on Him without self concern. His presence where he is is no mistake and it was not coincidental, but part of the plan of God, who knows exactly where and exactly with whom you were. 

Being present to God in this world is difficult so long as we are self centered creatures. Eventually it is possible to be less self concerned and more eager to be in the presence of the Lord, because once we are no longer centered in His consolations, He certainly does make Himself known to a person He has called and consecrated. That consecration, by the way, produces a tendency to focus on God instead of self, for by our being focused on God we can change the world, however slightly, to be a better and more peaceful place. When there is resistance to a spiritual person on the part of others, whether religious or clerical, it is not of God, even though He can certainly use the friction for the sanctification of his soul. 

My advice is to not bother a hermit who seems legitimate on the basis of his demeanor. In all things, the just tend to want to heal and perfect others so they may enjoy the happiness of the Lord. To hinder that work is hardly bright.

Salutare

 Our love of God and the sweetness of His relationship is not measured by the sweetness of our consolations, but our acceptance of the unacceptable and unbearable. Nevertheless, we would not be human if we did not complain, or cry out once in a while for the pain we endure. 

If you complain, remember that He knew beforehand that we might complain; it does not indicate we are lost. He knows where we are and our condition, otherwise we would be overcome.

Peace be with you.

A Reflection from Youtube, the part time hermit

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Salutare

 Our love of God and the sweetness of His relationship is not measured by the sweetness of our consolations, but our acceptance of the unacceptable and unbearable. Nevertheless, we would not be human if we did not complain, or cry out once in a while for the pain we endure. 

If you complain, remember that He knew beforehand that we might complain; it does not indicate we are lost. He knows where we are and our condition, otherwise we would be overcome.

Peace be with you.

A Reflection from Youtube, the part time hermit

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Flitting

Swallowtail at rest amongst flowers.

It is really sad the way history repeats itself. The facts reveal themselves inexorably, and Donald Trump is being stripped and revealed for who he is, and in my mind, is not qualified to be the leader of our country.

Other people have been caught up in the vile things that have their hooks in Donald Trump, and they will pay the price for their association and collaboration. Adolph Hitler seized upon the methamphetimines of his time, in order to try to achieve super human power to control the world. He got the power he wanted, but was destroyed by it, and Donald Trump is also being destroyed in a similar way. For all we know, perhaps Vladimir Putin is too. None of them realize who they are, and it is not fame that engulfs them, but infamy.

To be someone totally driven by ego and drugs and paranoia is sad to say the least, but even worse, they are being led by others on whom they are totally dependent.

The bottom line is that we do not need or want such people leading our country. We are still great. Our nation has not dissolved into chaos the way so many third world countries have. We can still provide example and leadership for the world, and correct our errors along the way, by working and thinking together, but we can't do it by promoting promiscuity, immorality and selfish greed for power. 

God gave us what greatness we have preserved, but we preserved nothing on our own; GOD is the one whose plan included us and we are who we are today because of our good and bad choices in life.

Nations cannot engage in the immorality destroying so many young lives without stumbling and bad judgement, killing the unborn as an inconvenience in our modern life. He will not bless or tolerate our weaknesses if we are prejudiced and seeking to use power against the poor and disadvantaged. Such behaviour will be punished; He will allow us to do what we want rather than hinting that we should do differently. 

Lent is soon upon us. Use the time to reflect who Jesus was, how He acted, and the things He did. Discern how we have allowed ourselves to be shaped by evil, and how to correct our errors. 

The mystical spiritual world is very real, but we scarcely notice it unless we have strained and worked hard to learn to see Him in our will and mind, so as to do the things that make a person sensitive to God.

That sensitivity is hard to see, like a butterfly flitting from tree to tree  in the wind. Taking a good photograph of a butterfly requires patience and wits to anticipate where it will go next and when it will launch itself into the breeze again. They know when the flowers they visit, have nectar or are emptied of it already and ready to shrivel and fall.

Our life with Jesus requires thoughtfulness and patience. We think so often that we are forming our life by our own efforts, and can hardly control our feelings and desires, and all too often, sin when we thought we were going to do some good thing. He allows us to stumble and fall so we learn. As long as we keep on moving, we are alright. He guides our steps gives us confidence by revealing Himself to us bit by bit, until we begin to live in His proximity and to be glad for being by His side.

In order to reflect sufficiently, a person needs peace and quiet, to be still, and to listen to our heart. That means turning things off, praying and listening within ourselves, skills acquired slowly over time. We will not achieve any progress without silent stillness in our lives that occur regularly, and turning our to Him to listen and try very hard to catch every word and every intonation of every word.

We can build a peaceful world by persevering and making wise decisions.

Flitting

Swallowtail at rest amongst flowers.

It is really sad the way history repeats itself. The facts reveal themselves inexorably, and Donald Trump is being stripped and revealed for who he is, and in my mind, is not qualified to be the leader of our country.

Other people have been caught up in the vile things that have their hooks in Donald Trump, and they will pay the price for their association and collaboration. Adolph Hitler seized upon the methamphetimines of his time, in order to try to achieve super human power to control the world. He got the power he wanted, but was destroyed by it, and Donald Trump is also being destroyed in a similar way. For all we know, perhaps Vladimir Putin is too. None of them realize who they are, and it is not fame that engulfs them, but infamy.

To be someone totally driven by ego and drugs and paranoia is sad to say the least, but even worse, they are being led by others on whom they are totally dependent.

The bottom line is that we do not need or want such people leading our country. We are still great. Our nation has not dissolved into chaos the way so many third world countries have. We can still provide example and leadership for the world, and correct our errors along the way, by working and thinking together, but we can't do it by promoting promiscuity, immorality and selfish greed for power. 

God gave us what greatness we have preserved, but we preserved nothing on our own; GOD is the one whose plan included us and we are who we are today because of our good and bad choices in life.

Nations cannot engage in the immorality destroying so many young lives without stumbling and bad judgement, killing the unborn as an inconvenience in our modern life. He will not bless or tolerate our weaknesses if we are prejudiced and seeking to use power against the poor and disadvantaged. Such behaviour will be punished; He will allow us to do what we want rather than hinting that we should do differently. 

Lent is soon upon us. Use the time to reflect who Jesus was, how He acted, and the things He did. Discern how we have allowed ourselves to be shaped by evil, and how to correct our errors. 

The mystical spiritual world is very real, but we scarcely notice it unless we have strained and worked hard to learn to see Him in our will and mind, so as to do the things that make a person sensitive to God.

That sensitivity is hard to see, like a butterfly flitting from tree to tree  in the wind. Taking a good photograph of a butterfly requires patience and wits to anticipate where it will go next and when it will launch itself into the breeze again. They know when the flowers they visit, have nectar or are emptied of it already and ready to shrivel and fall.

Our life with Jesus requires thoughtfulness and patience. We think so often that we are forming our life by our own efforts, and can hardly control our feelings and desires, and all too often, sin when we thought we were going to do some good thing. He allows us to stumble and fall so we learn. As long as we keep on moving, we are alright. He guides our steps gives us confidence by revealing Himself to us bit by bit, until we begin to live in His proximity and to be glad for being by His side.

In order to reflect sufficiently, a person needs peace and quiet, to be still, and to listen to our heart. That means turning things off, praying and listening within ourselves, skills acquired slowly over time. We will not achieve any progress without silent stillness in our lives that occur regularly, and turning our to Him to listen and try very hard to catch every word and every intonation of every word.

We can build a peaceful world by persevering and making wise decisions.

Need

The hermitage where I used to live.

You don't get what you need by taking what you want. Many times, something less expensive is more comfortable and useful than the thing someone is hawking in the marketplace.

In fact, one does not get a long life without risking it, and making considerable sacrifices. One does not get freedom by taking it from someone else, even if they have committed great wrongs. One does not get children, for instance, without sacrificing considerable freedom over time, safeguarding the infant, and welcoming the child into your life, in spite of the demands made on your time and resources.

Speaking lies is not without risks, and cheating does not ensure power. There is always someone smarter who can see through the lie and alert their friends and loved ones to avoid the trap. Going through life always looking for the advantage is a sure way to eventually lose it all. While it might be regrettable that one did not get some prize thing, low hanging fruit isn't always ripe or palatable. And if the only person you spend any effort pleasing is yourself, you have had your pleasure, and soon enough it fades and withers like a rose.

We have fought two wars that engulfed the whole world and the entire human race, and still, people react to their anger and the transgressions of others with ever-increasing, efficient violence and destruction. Now we can do it in a fraction of the time it used to take.

The people who were killed in the wars we have fought cannot come back to tell you to your face, what it was like to be torn to bits by bullets or to be shot out of the sky, or be blown up in a bombing raid on a ship. They will tell you of the extreme cost, and warn you that to take their lives for granted is not a way forward as a civilization, that leads to fruitful, satisfying life. 

Too many times, too many people have had their lives cut short, and are cutoff from the happiness that for a moment was all too close. Their opportunity to hold their sleeping infant son in their arms was snatched away from them forever, and they will do all in their power to make you recognize the depth of the pain of their sacrifice.

If we take the easy road in life all the time, and consider nothing but out own pleasure and happiness, no one will be happy, and there isn't a drug strong enough to swallow up regret.

If you have the opportunity to make a sacrifice to God, then do so; the opportunity may not be yours again, and the one whose suffering might have been lessened will have to endure without relief.

People have made tremendous sacrifices so you can enjoy a life happiness, but you cannot always be happy, and the most unhappy persons in the world lived selfishly to the extreme, and perhaps dodged the finger of chance, but we will be judged by God and our fellow human beings, because everything will be plain to see. Make it easier on yourself by doing penance, making sacrifices and atoning for your sins, so at least you may be clothed in happiness when your time comes to stand before God.

The most dangerous people on earth do not believe in God or morality or treating others with dignity and equality. You must be the just person who stands before God now as if it were the judgement day, and pleads for others as well as himself.