Storm Time

 

Several days ago, if you had offered me the Last Rites, I would have gladly accepted. I was so miserable with pain in difficult breathing through  my stuffed head and lungs that I was near the end of my energies. Having gotten the flu shot, I don't understand why I got so way-laid. Since I got the shots ( COVID and FLU), for free, I can't complain on that account, but as far as efficacy is concerned, I have to give zero percent satisfaction rating. I even bit my tongue in a bad spot in the midst of a violent sneezing fit, but fortunately I got through all that and now am on the mend. I had one bout with diarhea, but took some medication for too, and it has mended as well.

We have a pretty dawn underway, in the midst of winter. The mountains are getting their snow pack refreshed, so enthusiasts of skiing are happy. I miss not seeing some snow for a couple days, but it seems the present weather pattern if not favorable for lowland snow this year.

As for the rest of the world, I can understand all the suffering being necessary, as the world has gone mentally ill. I commend the world to the Lord in all my prayers and hope you will too, not pay any attention to headlines sensationalizing politics and news, spreading lies and hate everywhere. As you pray, remember those who need your prayers and offer your prayers to God who can relieve their hearts.

He has opened my heart all the way, and the love is so beautiful. 

THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN BEING SOMEONE'S DINNER.

Storm Time

 

Several days ago, if you had offered me the Last Rites, I would have gladly accepted. I was so miserable with pain in difficult breathing through  my stuffed head and lungs that I was near the end of my energies. Having gotten the flu shot, I don't understand why I got so way-laid. Since I got the shots ( COVID and FLU), for free, I can't complain on that account, but as far as efficacy is concerned, I have to give zero percent satisfaction rating. I even bit my tongue in a bad spot in the midst of a violent sneezing fit, but fortunately I got through all that and now am on the mend. I had one bout with diarhea, but took some medication for too, and it has mended as well.

We have a pretty dawn underway, in the midst of winter. The mountains are getting their snow pack refreshed, so enthusiasts of skiing are happy. I miss not seeing some snow for a couple days, but it seems the present weather pattern if not favorable for lowland snow this year.

As for the rest of the world, I can understand all the suffering being necessary, as the world has gone mentally ill. I commend the world to the Lord in all my prayers and hope you will too, not pay any attention to headlines sensationalizing politics and news, spreading lies and hate everywhere. As you pray, remember those who need your prayers and offer your prayers to God who can relieve their hearts.

He has opened my heart all the way, and the love is so beautiful. 

THERE IS MORE TO LIFE THAN BEING SOMEONE'S DINNER.

Bug

The last three days were spent trying to recover from a virus with chills and heavy coughing and very sore throat. Finally coming out of it, and hope I never get hit again. Actually, since I have had all the COVID shots, the flu shot and the shingles shot, you would think I would be invulnerable, but think again. A senior person's immune system can be weak to begin with and the inoculation might not be as efficacious as it would be otherwise.

Thankfully, a couple aspirin helped a great deal, I curled up nice and snug in my bed for the duration of the fever. This morning's coffee and the aspirin have helped soothe my sore throat. 

I do remember one other time when I had such a spell, and that was during a visit to a monastery. 

Best wishes to everyone.

Bug

The last three days were spent trying to recover from a virus with chills and heavy coughing and very sore throat. Finally coming out of it, and hope I never get hit again. Actually, since I have had all the COVID shots, the flu shot and the shingles shot, you would think I would be invulnerable, but think again. A senior person's immune system can be weak to begin with and the inoculation might not be as efficacious as it would be otherwise.

Thankfully, a couple aspirin helped a great deal, I curled up nice and snug in my bed for the duration of the fever. This morning's coffee and the aspirin have helped soothe my sore throat. 

I do remember one other time when I had such a spell, and that was during a visit to a monastery. 

Best wishes to everyone.

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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