Tag Archives: #faith

Even more.

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I want you to know that the opportunity this presents on a daily or as needed basis is much desired and deeply appreciated.

Thoughts, words and actions all have their own mission and purpose, and as they are received, heard or experienced, each provides their own distinct indelible impact on life in these parts. I am still in the learning process here. By no means is this intended to be a “how to” or any derivative thereof.

Things can just be awe-full in their depth and timing. A word, some seemingly inconspicuous phrase and the thoughts they bring carry this immense fullness of awe inspiring truth. It just makes me want to share. To connect and see if anyone else has been touched in the same fashion.

Also, I may use “I” in some context because that is just how it comes out. But I also write with a great deal of “you”. Never to point a finger or single anyone out. More so calling myself “you”. Like “…hey Mark, you better be grateful that you can do this when the spirit moves you.”

Today, it was a variety of ways to discern the loving suggestion that you love not just your neighbors but your enemies as well.

I take enemy from a literal perspective. Someone trying to do you harm, physically and everything thereafter.

But in his reflection today, Bishop Barron offered two other views.

One, which is absolutely true in my my case, is that perhaps the “enemy” is someone that is just plain old annoying. And the constant barrage of annoyance while quasi damaging to your day, may actually reflect something in you that takes it as such. An honest aspect of your persona. Perhaps it is actually a confrontation to your beliefs, ego or desire for control that sets the drums of war beating.

Then, it may go a little further past your blockade, exposing an inadequacy you may have deflected, ignored or just excused. That can lead to some spirited conflicts in a variety of ways. Speaking from my experience, more so a war of attrition. No settlement can be reached in either case until you can somehow surrender to the truth about yourself.

It is possible that the enemy lay within.

What is it in you that propagates the annoyance within yourself?

And is there something within that finally needs to be addressed?

So perhaps it goes back to love your neighbor as you love yourself. And if you don’t really love yourself in all honesty. then how can you best love your neightbor?

Then there is your enemy.

Are they intent on attacking you from the outside in? Or is it a combatant that lay in wait from within? One there all along, but never acknowledged, confronted or understood. Commanding you to think, speak and act in such a manner as to bring about conflict, escalation and destruction.

Need to read more about this.

Not seeking solution this night.

But man, it sure makes me wonder.

Think.

And want to write.

Even more.

In that I trust.

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Was hoping there might be a compelling quote I could find somewhere to start me on my way today. But alas, I just wasn’t meant to be I guess. Come on heart, mind and soul. Get something together here. Fingers are getting antsy…

“Empty me, fill me, use me” is a refrain that has just woven itself into this ratty old, thread bare fabric.

A natural progression for growth offered by chance. Just happened to be there when it was shared. Nothing at all close to some version of a “to do” or “bucket” list. I do the laundry, some of the shopping, chores and empty the compost pile bucket when the flies become unmanageable. There I go again. But I digress.

These six words residing in this single phrase simply presents a way “to be”. Both literally and figuratively.

Providing direction for this lost soul to move, for once, in a positive and lasting manner. Not telling me. Offering me help to overcome all that has to now, held me back. Prevented me from seeing and knowing the best version of myself. For my purposes to a limited extent. But absolutely more so that others can see and know that side of me as well. Honesty at its most fundamental best..

And then there is the other side of this divinely minted coin.

The admission of being totally lost and bereft of anything other than dismay, despair, disappointment and self disgust. The desperate need of absolution from thinking, speaking and acting like I know everything, can take care of everything, and change everything.

Forgiveness for my multitude of mistakes, an ego that has run the fence line for far too long and placing myself on some abstract personal pedastal.

The confession that humility, gratitude and a boundless fatherly love are what this prodigal son desperately needs right now.

And the sincere offering to embrace being used however, whenever, wherever and in whatever manner is needed.

The onset of these forty days has really opened this man’s eyes, mind, heart and soul. Body still lags a little behind. Lost a few steps. But it will get there.

So please empty me.

Not just this once, but continually. There is a lot to move out.

And there is so much room for improvement.

You know exactly what needs to go in there.

In that I trust.

For this resurrection is ongoing.

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So, this time of year holds a special sense of wonder for me. Not that it always has. It was a long time comin’. Whether it has been the passage of time, the growing honesty within, a gathering awareness of the value of humility or just that I understand things better now. And each day brings with it ever more clarity, definition and peace.

For that I am eternally grateful.

I have come to know this opportunity for growth and an abundant life from two paths. Separate, and yet, intermeshed. Ineinander; in to one another. Increasingly conscious that this event, if you will, is not merely consigned to a set space on the calendar or the defining moment of known spirituality. The wisdom, precious insight and ultimately truth that is being offered is present to all, right here. Right now.

Within some of the readings, our fellowship, faith services and other avenues traveled by the truth, this simple prayer fully resides within my heart, mind and soul. A declaration consisting of six, simple, being altering assurances.

“Empty me.

Fill me.

Use me.” *

A precept woven into our fellowship, our faith and where God as we understood him resides in our lives. A trinity of revival, renewal and rebirth.

About a week ago, we received the symbol of our essence and our mortality. An emblem to encourage us to embrace reflection, reverence and repentance. A badge that is intended to be worn with the utmost humility and gratitude. An admonition to forsake ego.

The farther along the path I currently venture. I have come to realize that you can wear that emblem every day, providing comfort as you are emptied of destructiveness, deceit, disillusionment. distrust, despair. Filling you with unmeasured grace, forgiveness and love. Using you to disperse these gifts back to all.

In one sense, we will leave this spiritual ark in thirty some days. And yet the compelling nature of the undertaking merits complete collaborative, lifelong inhabitation. Within our trinity.

There need not be an end to this season for any of us.

For this resurrection is ongoing.

  • Sr. Miriam – Hallowed

Love.

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Daily writing prompt
Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?
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In today’s climes, this is quite the topic. It gets bantied about like no body’s business. It has a more sacred meaning to me. That being said, what follows will truly be shocking to those that have come to know how this football noggin works. I went a little deeper to find the origins of the word.

Turns out, it’s Greek to me. Well, Greek to all. But I digress…

The root Patēr (πατήρ), meaning “father is from where it stems. Then, becoming patrios, meaning “of one’s father,”  followed by patriot (πατριώτης), meaning “from the same country” or “fellow countryman”.

Now there are fathers and there is a Father. It only stands to reason then there are fatherlands and a Fatherland. My perspective regarding things have been the subject reflection and change of late. And if you look at things the way I have been, we are all of one Father. Hence, then we are all born out of the same Fatherland.

This means that we are all from the same country and are fellow country men. And women. It is just that the corresponding topography is immense, far and ever so wide. Commutes may require planes, trains, automobiles, or even ships. Thank goodness for Apple Translate. Talk about gerrymandering. Sheesh.

A patriot, then is meant to support, serve and defend our country men and women. Primarily through sacrifice, selflessness, respect and above all love. That is how our Father would want us to serve our fellow countrymen and women. Through out the Fatherland.

You will notice there is no mention of ego in how I choose to regard this subject. That is because it isn’t needed to support, serve and defend our country men and women. All that is required is sacrifice, selflessness, respect and above all love.

The type given to us by our Father.

Throughout all of the Fatherland.

Love.

“Ephphatha” 

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Today’s reading was very compelling. Especially the reflection that was offered thereafter.

It shared the story of the deaf man with a speech impediment that was given his hearing and his tongue. How He chose to grant this gift away from the crowds. How the connection was essentially made to plug the man back into life. To the current of truth.

Like then, finding space away from the crowds today can be a tall order. Especially when we need to be present so that we can truly hear.

“The raucous voices of so many, the insistent bray of the advertising culture, the confusing Babel of competing spiritualities—all of it makes us deaf to His word.” *

Not only does this distract us from the truth, it also removes us from the moment. It can send us back in time to past mistakes, errors in judgement and flaws in character. A path that can then rocket us forward to wishing and embracing a self inflicting narrative of deflection, defect and defeat.

“Things will never get better or change the way I want them to because I am just not worth it.”

And yet, as I am starting to finally realize, if you can just stay right where you are, in the here and now, then you enter into a wonderful sense of peace and serenity. Acknowledging you cannot go back or jump forward is centering. It can help stave off remorse over what cannot be changed while inhibting anxiety over what change may – or may not – be coming.

There is no time better than where you are right now.

Maintaining your presence within this very moment is a place of true connection. With those all around you. With yourself. And most of all, with the One that simply desires to be there with you.

Perhaps He led that afflicted soul away from the crowds to defer the imminent accolades and preeminence for Him as he regained his ability to hear. And maybe it was also to bring that instant of healing first and foremost in his memory. Within that one moment.

It’s ironic that being moved to a place of silence created connection and belonging by listening.

To a voice meant to be heard above the bray.

“Ephphatha” 

  • Bishop Robert Barron