christianity – Page 3 – …my temporary assignment.

Location

In a conversation at work some time ago, the phrase “location, location, location” came into play.

Nothing to do with its inherent real estate connotation. But more so how one maintains a sense of presence in the real estate they happen to occupy in this moment. Not just where they find themselves. But more to the point, how they find themselves where they are now. Not in a week, month or year.

Now.

‘Cause when it comes down to it, if you aren’t here, then you cannot access what is to be gained from the moment. Not that each moment is going to be an epiphany. That is never the case. It is just that each moment has within it the capacity to become an epiphany.

A surprise. Never expected. Life changin’.

An epiphany.

It seems to me that there is a human tendency to believe that moments that seem a mistake, reflect a poor decision or turn out to be a failure are lost causes. A chance lost. Something not meant to be. Better left behind than kept, discerned and understood.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Everything we encounter in our lives has meaning. A purpose. A reason to be. And yet because things are not precisely what we imagined, we think all is lost. Wasted effort, commitment and direction.

We choose to leave the moment and place ourselves where we wish to be. A place begotten without the sacrifice, effort, discipline and effort. Then when we awake, and find ourselves at what seems to be the ultimate conclusion, we deflect, ignore, blame and avoid the outcome.

“Location, location location” has nothing to do with where you are. It has everything to do with being fully present where you are right here, right now. So that you can someday, become all that you were meant to be.

If you have the presence of mind and soul to capture and keep those multiple instances of missteps, defeat and failure, then you can access the wherewithal to maintain a presence in those moments yet to come.

And better yet?

Those made just for you.

…will save it.

“Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus lays down the conditions of discipleship.”

Whoa.

That was a gut punch.

Again, far be it from me to preach to any or all of you. I am in the process of working my way back through the mess I made of things. But this stands out in numerous ways, all amenable to a Linkedin life. But I digress…

Essentially, deny yourself. Make it about those all around you. From the bottom to the top. They are to be your priority going forward, at all times and all the time.

A tough row to hoe if you are on social media. Caught up in the rigamarole of office politics. Seniority. Parking spots. And the like.

Essentially, plain and simple, set yourself aside. Make it about the other. Not you. Make it about the other.

Then, go one or many more steps forward and “lose your life” for those all around you. Make it totally about them. What they need. Focus on their growth. What they can achieve. How they can be promoted. Ultimately, their success.

Cause when this happens, you have built a team that will carry on what you have taught, embraced and loved as only you could.

Speaking as a coach, I am not on the field. They are. So they need to be placed in a position where they can make every moment count.

For them.

Not me.

It will take some discernment, acceptance and faith, but trust that what becomes of denying yourself will make you what and who you were meant to be.

A disciple so to speak.

One who puts themselves there for the other. Because ultimately, it will come to round you out and bring you where you have always wanted to be.

There for them.

“For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it.”

Who I am.

“What we have to be is what we are.”

― Thomas Merton

I do my best to read the daily gospel reflections from Bishop Barron. As I continue my work to regain the conviction to return I am finding each day’s offering extends far beyond the scope of its intentions. At least that is how I read and feel them.

Parallels abound, things click in all manners and his words convey images, ideas and interests faar beyond the message of the moment. Thank you for shaking things up and making me think, Bishop.

So today, He says “who do you say that I am?”. A point blank address to those around Him to confess the known but unsaid truth. To put what was known into words. So that all were not just aligned, but all understood and all confirmed the veracity of what things were. Sorry, kind of selling that historic moment short.

Now in no way am I contending that I deserve that level of consideration from anyone let alone twelve. But when I read this, I actually wondered what those that “know” me say that I am. For it is certain that I struggle saying who I am. And I am confident that those around me see something that is for lack of a better term, exists in total obscurity to me.

Now He asked because he knew, and wanted them to come to see and share in that knowledge. I ask because I am not so keen on what it is that I am, and seek to understand what is obvious to those but me.

While He was made to be Him, I was made to be me. You were made to be you. It can be challenging when there is alot of gray and we just are not certain who we say we are as was He. Perhaps there is something else to be gained from today’s gospel.

Relinquish the resistance towards something bigger than yourself. Like trust in how you were made. What you are intended to do.

So that you can be what you are.

Who He says I am.

Fecundity

I do not read nearly as much as I ought. From authors hardbound that is. A trend that is overdue for reversal. Like many of you, scanning and skimming through articles that crawl across various feeds or are born of various searches have become the norm.

Getting the bulk of your reading done in this manner mandates that both electronic, personal and BS filters be set at optimum levels. Yet one enduring positive derivative of this practice is the unrelenting exposure to all sorts of thoughts and words. And if you allow curiosity to assume the point, this begets more opportunity for learning and discernment.

By employing this method, one can stumble upon all sorts of verbiage. Even for the first time in fifty seven some years on this planet, to my chagrin.

Like this one.

“Fecundity”.

Generally speaking, fecundity is defined by various and sundry sites as “the quality or power of producing abundantly; fruitfulness or fertility. Productive or creative power”.

Then, following curiosity’s capable lead, a second site went on to illustrate fecundity further:

“It refers to a powerful productivity, usually in the area of natural growth, either from the earth or by human reproduction. But it can also be used to describe great mental ability and creativity, the ability to create intellectual products. In any case, fecundity has a positive sense, suggesting healthy growth of life-forms and mental abilities.”

Now those of you that have come to know this author’s works may have already sensed the impending drop of the other shoe.

For it was first a post from Bishop Robert Barron that actually begat all of this introspection.

An alert of sorts, announcing his forthcoming Sunday homily, titled surprisingly enough; “The Fecundity of Your Heart”

An amazing turn of the word.

For if you can figure out a way to lead with it, despite the inevitable bruising, battering and bleeding, your heart does have an innate capacity and power to produce in abundance. Especially one crop that seems always in short supply; good.

The Master Gardener enriched that small parcel within each one of us.

The ideal soil to accept the seeds He sows. A “fecundus” environment He purposely designed to provide us with lasting and loving growth.

“God sows his Word into each of our hearts liberally. He does not solely give his grace to those he knows will bear fruit. He sows the Word in everyone, but it doesn’t flourish for each person due to circumstances (secularism, anxiety, the allurement of the world). Strive to counter that by letting the Word open you to the implications of his Lordship. God is always giving himself to you, listen and act.” Bishop Robert Barron

But being rich in its composition and depth, far too often weeds and thistles become tenant farmers within that parcel of our hearts. Lacking due diligence, we neglect the soil. We never develop the necessary commitment to till the land He gave us.

That parcel within may become barren. And His words may never take root.

Our hearts can become overgrown, crowding out the words He continuously and intentionally sows. Not just for one season. But over, and over and over yet again.

God is always giving himself to us. If we can learn to listen, and then, act, we can produce an abundance of good for those around us. And, reap a portion of that harvest yet for ourselves.

Fecundity.

A richness of life the master gardener longingly wants each one of us to experience.

As the prized fruit of the seed of His word, acts and love.

“Sonflowers.”