Tag: jesus

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.

Promise

“If you can’t live through adversity, you’ll never be good at what you do. You have to live through the unfair things, and you have to develop the hide to not let it bother you and keep your eyes focused on what you have to do.” 

— Maurice “Hank” Greenberg 

I will go one step further. 

It is simply not enough to live through adversity, to choose a path of tolerant coexistence and acceptance. Instead, you have to learn how to embrace another tack, and go far beyond just leaning into it.  

You have to figure out how to thrive in it.  Because if you are living right, adversity ain’t ever gonna be a “one and done” thing.  “If” that something just happens to happen. 

Adversity will then always be a “when” event.  

That is for certain. 

Because if you consistently push out beyond  your personal envelope of safety and constantly  venture out beyond the confines of comfort, you will be creating guarantors that produce  more than your fair share of adversity. The “when” will then always be the operative word to describe the frequency of adversity’s presence in all of your endeavors.

So perhaps at first, leaning directly into an increasing array of challenges isn’t always possible  or prudent.   After all, they are new surroundings. And this is an acquired taste. 

But in time, you will learn to thrive in this environment.  Not just in spite of it – but because of it.  You will develop a rare sense of perspective. Become adept at recognizing the opportunity that is hidden within every trial and tribulation. And then, proceed to shine in spite of it.

I promise.

Sure a thicker hide will help absorb and deflect the punishment those moments are bound to deliver as Mr. Greenburg asserts. 

But a stoutness of character paired with a resolute courage in your convictions will always help you to overcome just about anything. 

And not just  “if “ they do.  

But when they present themselves.

Then, once that begins to happen, things will no longer happen to you.  

You will begin to happen to them.  

I promise. 

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.”