Summer Flowers

 Photos

Pied-Billed Grebe adult male.

Sunflower

Nasturtiums

Cosmos

Sunflower, caught in twine.

Summer Flowers

 Photos

Pied-Billed Grebe adult male.

Sunflower

Nasturtiums

Cosmos

Sunflower, caught in twine.

Anticipations

Humility Wins

 I have been reading about Padre Pio again. One thing becomes immediately obvious: if one does not want pain and suffering, they should not expect to suffer the wounds of Christ, who immediately crucifies every victim soul in whom He has instilled a genuine longing for that particular martyrdom.

None of us in this world will ever know completely everything he encountered in life, whether joyful or mournful. The fact is, you seldom find pictures of Padre Pio with a mournful expression on his face. It is equally true of ordinary folk like us, that we know very little about one another unless in our lives we encountered our beloved baring their soul to us to find some peace and comfort.

Things that have passed us by, all too often appears to have settled deeply into a life causing no little pain of soul and mind. This being the case, let us be attentive to one another as we navigate life, and never miss an opportunity to pray for one another, whether acquaintances or the most intimate of friends.

Our separateness is transcended by God, and we often have the opportunity to know about sorrow in the lives of those we love. We ought to be willing to suffer some trivial thing for them so they may know peace and love.

It is a mystery how victim souls can genuinely encounter Jesus nailed to the cross and suffering every indignity in life. The fact is, they do, in such a way that the Will of God is fulfilled and their consciousness encounters the restful peace of His love.

That peace can coexist very well with the most abject pain and divine joy, and cloisters are filled with people who are cheerful, crucified in agony and knowing the full penetration of the lance which opened Christ's side. Let us give thanks for them, and pray that we not be subjected to such misery ourselves, yet willing to encounter some misery ourselves for their sake. Never be ashamed of the humbleness of our participation in their suffering; the humiliation itself, that we are not strong enough, can itself be offered humbly and unselfconsciously.

Blessed are they who encounter the cross and are not distressed to see the Face of God in our brothers and sisters in the world.

If we get to heaven, we may very well give thanks to God that someone confronted the Divine Passion on the Face of Christ.

Anticipations

Humility Wins

 I have been reading about Padre Pio again. One thing becomes immediately obvious: if one does not want pain and suffering, they should not expect to suffer the wounds of Christ, who immediately crucifies every victim soul in whom He has instilled a genuine longing for that particular martyrdom.

None of us in this world will ever know completely everything he encountered in life, whether joyful or mournful. The fact is, you seldom find pictures of Padre Pio with a mournful expression on his face. It is equally true of ordinary folk like us, that we know very little about one another unless in our lives we encountered our beloved baring their soul to us to find some peace and comfort.

Things that have passed us by, all too often appears to have settled deeply into a life causing no little pain of soul and mind. This being the case, let us be attentive to one another as we navigate life, and never miss an opportunity to pray for one another, whether acquaintances or the most intimate of friends.

Our separateness is transcended by God, and we often have the opportunity to know about sorrow in the lives of those we love. We ought to be willing to suffer some trivial thing for them so they may know peace and love.

It is a mystery how victim souls can genuinely encounter Jesus nailed to the cross and suffering every indignity in life. The fact is, they do, in such a way that the Will of God is fulfilled and their consciousness encounters the restful peace of His love.

That peace can coexist very well with the most abject pain and divine joy, and cloisters are filled with people who are cheerful, crucified in agony and knowing the full penetration of the lance which opened Christ's side. Let us give thanks for them, and pray that we not be subjected to such misery ourselves, yet willing to encounter some misery ourselves for their sake. Never be ashamed of the humbleness of our participation in their suffering; the humiliation itself, that we are not strong enough, can itself be offered humbly and unselfconsciously.

Blessed are they who encounter the cross and are not distressed to see the Face of God in our brothers and sisters in the world.

If we get to heaven, we may very well give thanks to God that someone confronted the Divine Passion on the Face of Christ.

Forbearance

Life is boring without anyone to
appreciate our surroundings.

I finally got the blog set up the way I want. I would not have succeeded without the Lord; things fell into place without much struggle, and that is a blessing.

As near as I can tell, night was invented for torture, but out of the tumbling and yelling, the answers to questions appear. It is like a rock collector putting promising stones into a tumbler to tumble for hours and hours. The result is smooth and shiny and beautiful; beautiful enough to make them worth quite a bit of money. Sometimes, though, it is hard at first, to appreciate being in the tumbler environment, but as the stones bang against each other, their beauty is revealed. 

It is too bad that human beings don't appreciate each other more. Out of the appreciation rises growth and maturity and the answers to questions. I find the thought of mutual annihilation abhorrent, and I believe the Lord is trying us; He has not ended the trial with a hung jury. Since  wars can still break out, we ought to be careful we don't annihilate each other. There are weapons enough to do it, but woe unto them who refuse to refrain from using them. 

If we can come to mutual agreements, we can get to see who else is out there because they cultivate forbearance, and I think that is worth a lot.

Forbearance

Life is boring without anyone to
appreciate our surroundings.

I finally got the blog set up the way I want. I would not have succeeded without the Lord; things fell into place without much struggle, and that is a blessing.

As near as I can tell, night was invented for torture, but out of the tumbling and yelling, the answers to questions appear. It is like a rock collector putting promising stones into a tumbler to tumble for hours and hours. The result is smooth and shiny and beautiful; beautiful enough to make them worth quite a bit of money. Sometimes, though, it is hard at first, to appreciate being in the tumbler environment, but as the stones bang against each other, their beauty is revealed. 

It is too bad that human beings don't appreciate each other more. Out of the appreciation rises growth and maturity and the answers to questions. I find the thought of mutual annihilation abhorrent, and I believe the Lord is trying us; He has not ended the trial with a hung jury. Since  wars can still break out, we ought to be careful we don't annihilate each other. There are weapons enough to do it, but woe unto them who refuse to refrain from using them. 

If we can come to mutual agreements, we can get to see who else is out there because they cultivate forbearance, and I think that is worth a lot.

Rains

 

Blind nun heals woman.

News About Three Gorges Dam

It is raining here in Seattle at the moment. It was anticipated, but no one here is facing the catastrophe that China is, with regards to the potential disaster of the collapse of the Three Gorges dam. Any expectation of peace in the world is going to be affected by events in China and the reaction of the world's people. 

Frankly, I do not know what to ask for first, if reported events are true. It is difficult to verify these happenings when major media outlets ignore the crisis or distort the truth. How do you evacuate millions of people, and provide for them under the circumstances? If it were us facing these disasters, what would be the likelihood of aid from other countries who have been under threat of nuclear war at the hands of China? Hostilities would have to diminish or cease to exist as people bring solutions to bear on an oppressive situation. The people of China need assistance and the solidarity of Christians bringing moral support and encouragement to people who have lost everything except their lives.

The Lord stands before us whether we are aware of it or not. An increasing awareness of His presence would be a good sign. It would ordinarily be anticipated, and a person who has experienced aridity might be suddenly filled with joy. As dark as the moment may be for the world today, There is light, and it waits for those who act on the realization of the closeness of God to us all. A whole world awakening to Him would be incredible. Jesus  has told us this, and some have anticipated the arrival of light and peace as the answer to a life time of prayer. Keep praying if you have been praying, and focus on the Lord in the midst of troubles so that the Will of God might be done, because the consequences of success are to stupendous to be ignored.