Lent
There is a misunderstanding to lent I believe. It's all about giving up something? Well, in the world of religion and spiritual beliefs; giving up is a year long endeaver. Giving up ego, self, need, and desire. Giving up being in this world to be of this world. Giving up to simplify my life. Clear the way.
Also there are those that volunteer. Giving up time and money for someone else. Year round.
Or those that live within there means. We give up, just to survive. To keep the roof over our heads, or food in our childrens mouths. Especially single parents. {I shouldn't write that because two parent families do this as well.} We give up our time, dreams, hopes, for our children. To be mom and dad. There isn't time to persue that career in writing, or money to persue those dreams of travel. The basis, to give them a good balanced life. This is how it should be. The sacrifice? Has more benefits than one can count.
Why is it so important to give something up? Well, within the sphere of the great One. No-one is better then any other. No-one deserves more then any other. I should not benefit at anothers expense. When one person is without, people should rally, and see to it that they have the basis of sustaining life. Food, shelter, clothing.
The basis here as a catholic is to give up as Christ did. Christ gave his very life, for us. Why? I don't understand how anyone can ask why. We see this happening here, now in our world. Our armed forces overseas, giving up to keep our freedoms alive. To give us hope, that certain things will never happen again. They have a loyalty and love for our country that is often times difficult to understand. Incredible stories of bravery and courage. Lives lost so that others can carry on. Believing that they are making a positive difference. There is more happening over there that can be seen by the naked eye. There is a movement, underneath it all. God is at work. I truly believe this.
Does Christ want us to suffer? No. Christ and God do not want us to suffer. But like children, we need for things that enable suffering. We make choices that encourage our own suffering. We build our own personal world, that is more in than of. It is a time to evaluate these worlds, inner and outer that are built. Why did we build it, and to what benefit is there? Christ said he would rebuild the temple. But was he talking about the temple of stone, or the body temple? Me. The temple I am.
The stone walls, I have built. The rules and regulations I choose to follow. This belief I choose to incorporate into my lifestyle. Is this the right way? Am I walking with Christ or away?
Love. The reason Christ so gave of himself is love. Love is patient, love is kind. Silent love. Internal love, that is beyond human comprehension. That Love. To give of something through love, is the goal. I am not giving this up for my own whatevers. I am giving it up because I love. I love my family, so I won't take that 12 hour a day, highly payed job. I love myself, so I won't do certain things I desire. I love my community, so I will forgo the big screen t.v so that someone else has money to pay there heat. To love and be the better for it.
Intent, is very important. Wayne Dyer, is an incredible teacher of Intent. Why? There has to be, the basis of pure intent. When I begin something with the intent of becoming famous, or making money. It is not a free giving. Because I am too attached to the outcome, because it affects me directly. Oftentimes, and I catch myself in this. Doing something, and being too attached to the outcome. In this, I am too involved. Detachment doesn't mean not caring. It means that it is up to the receiver. Not I, what transpires. We had that recently with SA. Am I a lonely housewife? Completely testing the intent. I find the more I protest, the more I need to look at myself. Why do I do this? What is my purpose? What is my intent? This is good, and actually fits with this time of year.
Christ went to the desert, to cleanse himself. Prepare for what was about to transpire. Many beliefs have there own form of desert. What I find, incredible!! Truly amazing, is that people are physically doing this now. The response, their response to it, is heartwarming. Renewing my faith actually. You see, we are given these incredible people to watch and learn from. Their intent pure, believing in what they are doing. Is why I volunteer. I believe in them. They face demons. Real ones. Even face there own personal ones. Questioning at times. Yet will endure, will continue onward. In this, is an incredibly spiritual lesson.
I know I was afraid of entering the desert. Because one never knows what is awaiting me there. How can I be surprised? Well oftentimes, I am not sure what it is that holds me back, holds me down. Keeps me from Christ. Keeps me from experiencing that Love. I have an inkeling. Yet within the wisdom of Christ and God is a plan. Maybe not my plan? But a plan. There is safety, because I have them with me. I realise this as time goes by. The Blessed Mother, the Saints. Too guide me. I am not alone. Christ wasn't. God was there. God cannot force me though, to Love. Free will, is an amazing ideal. Taken seriously, can make or break a human being. Yet when we break ourselves, God is there. God was there in the beginning and will be there at the end. Ending is a different writing, because there are many endings....God is neverending and so are we.
You see. As Christ was upon that cross. God was there. The angels were as well. Yet he still suffered? As we all do. Free will. The asking, why do you forsake me? Trust in Him. The final breathe. I give myself to You.
When we went to Holy Name Cathedral a few weeks ago. It was for that very reason. To give up my life and hand it to Christ. Give up on my dreams, give up on my plans. Christ I trust in You. God I trust in You. I give my life to You, do as You will. With loyalty, faith, trust. Love.
Forgiveness. The end or beginning, when Christ arises and walks out into the sunlight. Holes still in his hands, scarred. Yet purified. Sacred. The important part of this whole time. Is the beautifull incredible forgiveness that is offered. God forgives us, whether we forgive ourselves. There is always a wrestling with Christ and God. How can you forgive me? You can't forgive me!! Who am I, to doubt that forgivness? It is natural for human beings to doubt something we find difficult to do ourselves. Who am I to refuse too, when they do? It is a tough fight wrestling within the desert. Yet, it is worthwhile. I believe. Faith, loyalty, hope, trust. Love.
When viewing Christs Passion. Passion is actually suffering. I went the first day. I wasn't christian I was pagan. Yet, I bought tickets for myself and three friends. A muslim, an ex catholic and two pagans. We went. I was worried. Holding my buddhist prayer beads. At the time studying buddhism to understand suffering.
Still wondering what Christ had to do with me and my life. He would never want me. Don't listen to christians. One thing I have learned; we can learn from each other and there are some incredible teachers. Yet, seek Christ to understand His wanting of you. He is waiting. He wants me to do something? No, he wants to love you. Untethered, without guile. Without demands. This love often difficult for humans to comprehend. This is the mystery.
The Holy Spirit moves within us all to help us to experience, get a glimpse into this mystery. To get some form of comprehension. Because if we cannot get even the tiniest inkling of comprehension, we cannot experience it.
Yet as I watched, I saw myself. This is why this movie was so important. For me, it was the realisation that I was any number of characters within that movie. The follower, the guards, the torturers, that wild crowd accusing, the woman holding the clothe, or Christ. Being punished and betrayed.
The Blessed Mother. Woman complain there isn't enough, about us/woman to follow. In christian teachings. Not true. Just in that movie alone are all the answers. She was amazing!! Truly inspiring!! Actions speak louder than words. Oftentimes it is the best way. She had the faith to let go, she had the faith to follow, she had such a faith it is an inspiration.
Christ? Well, I closed my eyes. Cried like many others. Yet was so involved with Christ, that I felt comforted. This wasn't supposed to happen. If one person had changed there minds, or taken a different route, it never would have? Each of us, plays a part. We are all intricate facets of this world. Believe it, take it seriously. What am I? I walked away, wondering, what am I? Which part have I chosen. Why did I choose it? That began my walk with Christ.
With alot of help from the Blessed Mother. We catholics don't worship her. We adore her. She is my mother!! Pray to her, and she will intercede for me. Interceding, were those times I doubted Christ. Doubted myself; I can't do this! She said, yes! You can! He doesn't want me! Yes he does. Here he is. She's the Mom, that when I falter or fail. Make a truly wrong choice.
Because of course, now that I am christian I shouldn't be making wrong choices, I should be perfect! Nothing bad should ever happen to me again! So how can I make a wrong choice? St Theresa of Avila, "The Way of Perfection." I am not perfect Christ is. I will always fail, will always make mistakes, it is human nature. Christ is the depth of that mistake. With Christ it can lessen.
The Blessed Mother says, "He is still here." Like when we go to Mom, "is he mad?" She is that calming presence that helps me to approach him again. I have failed. It is oftentimes my own shame, guilt, or remorse that keeps me from Him. Don't let that happen! Try again. That ability to keep on trying. Hope. She is hope. Don't let go of Him and it will get better. I may let go, but He never does.
So I guess, it's not all about giving something up. Each year is an opportunity to renew faith in Christ. To visit our own personal deserts and come out of it hopefull. Forgiven. Cleansed and purified. To review our own suffering and, why do I suffer? To remove those obstacles, to have the opportunity to live a better life. A gift from God we were all given.
Love
Accept it.
God Bless has blessed us all!
Also there are those that volunteer. Giving up time and money for someone else. Year round.
Or those that live within there means. We give up, just to survive. To keep the roof over our heads, or food in our childrens mouths. Especially single parents. {I shouldn't write that because two parent families do this as well.} We give up our time, dreams, hopes, for our children. To be mom and dad. There isn't time to persue that career in writing, or money to persue those dreams of travel. The basis, to give them a good balanced life. This is how it should be. The sacrifice? Has more benefits than one can count.
Why is it so important to give something up? Well, within the sphere of the great One. No-one is better then any other. No-one deserves more then any other. I should not benefit at anothers expense. When one person is without, people should rally, and see to it that they have the basis of sustaining life. Food, shelter, clothing.
The basis here as a catholic is to give up as Christ did. Christ gave his very life, for us. Why? I don't understand how anyone can ask why. We see this happening here, now in our world. Our armed forces overseas, giving up to keep our freedoms alive. To give us hope, that certain things will never happen again. They have a loyalty and love for our country that is often times difficult to understand. Incredible stories of bravery and courage. Lives lost so that others can carry on. Believing that they are making a positive difference. There is more happening over there that can be seen by the naked eye. There is a movement, underneath it all. God is at work. I truly believe this.
Does Christ want us to suffer? No. Christ and God do not want us to suffer. But like children, we need for things that enable suffering. We make choices that encourage our own suffering. We build our own personal world, that is more in than of. It is a time to evaluate these worlds, inner and outer that are built. Why did we build it, and to what benefit is there? Christ said he would rebuild the temple. But was he talking about the temple of stone, or the body temple? Me. The temple I am.
The stone walls, I have built. The rules and regulations I choose to follow. This belief I choose to incorporate into my lifestyle. Is this the right way? Am I walking with Christ or away?
Love. The reason Christ so gave of himself is love. Love is patient, love is kind. Silent love. Internal love, that is beyond human comprehension. That Love. To give of something through love, is the goal. I am not giving this up for my own whatevers. I am giving it up because I love. I love my family, so I won't take that 12 hour a day, highly payed job. I love myself, so I won't do certain things I desire. I love my community, so I will forgo the big screen t.v so that someone else has money to pay there heat. To love and be the better for it.
Intent, is very important. Wayne Dyer, is an incredible teacher of Intent. Why? There has to be, the basis of pure intent. When I begin something with the intent of becoming famous, or making money. It is not a free giving. Because I am too attached to the outcome, because it affects me directly. Oftentimes, and I catch myself in this. Doing something, and being too attached to the outcome. In this, I am too involved. Detachment doesn't mean not caring. It means that it is up to the receiver. Not I, what transpires. We had that recently with SA. Am I a lonely housewife? Completely testing the intent. I find the more I protest, the more I need to look at myself. Why do I do this? What is my purpose? What is my intent? This is good, and actually fits with this time of year.
Christ went to the desert, to cleanse himself. Prepare for what was about to transpire. Many beliefs have there own form of desert. What I find, incredible!! Truly amazing, is that people are physically doing this now. The response, their response to it, is heartwarming. Renewing my faith actually. You see, we are given these incredible people to watch and learn from. Their intent pure, believing in what they are doing. Is why I volunteer. I believe in them. They face demons. Real ones. Even face there own personal ones. Questioning at times. Yet will endure, will continue onward. In this, is an incredibly spiritual lesson.
I know I was afraid of entering the desert. Because one never knows what is awaiting me there. How can I be surprised? Well oftentimes, I am not sure what it is that holds me back, holds me down. Keeps me from Christ. Keeps me from experiencing that Love. I have an inkeling. Yet within the wisdom of Christ and God is a plan. Maybe not my plan? But a plan. There is safety, because I have them with me. I realise this as time goes by. The Blessed Mother, the Saints. Too guide me. I am not alone. Christ wasn't. God was there. God cannot force me though, to Love. Free will, is an amazing ideal. Taken seriously, can make or break a human being. Yet when we break ourselves, God is there. God was there in the beginning and will be there at the end. Ending is a different writing, because there are many endings....God is neverending and so are we.
You see. As Christ was upon that cross. God was there. The angels were as well. Yet he still suffered? As we all do. Free will. The asking, why do you forsake me? Trust in Him. The final breathe. I give myself to You.
When we went to Holy Name Cathedral a few weeks ago. It was for that very reason. To give up my life and hand it to Christ. Give up on my dreams, give up on my plans. Christ I trust in You. God I trust in You. I give my life to You, do as You will. With loyalty, faith, trust. Love.
Forgiveness. The end or beginning, when Christ arises and walks out into the sunlight. Holes still in his hands, scarred. Yet purified. Sacred. The important part of this whole time. Is the beautifull incredible forgiveness that is offered. God forgives us, whether we forgive ourselves. There is always a wrestling with Christ and God. How can you forgive me? You can't forgive me!! Who am I, to doubt that forgivness? It is natural for human beings to doubt something we find difficult to do ourselves. Who am I to refuse too, when they do? It is a tough fight wrestling within the desert. Yet, it is worthwhile. I believe. Faith, loyalty, hope, trust. Love.
When viewing Christs Passion. Passion is actually suffering. I went the first day. I wasn't christian I was pagan. Yet, I bought tickets for myself and three friends. A muslim, an ex catholic and two pagans. We went. I was worried. Holding my buddhist prayer beads. At the time studying buddhism to understand suffering.
Still wondering what Christ had to do with me and my life. He would never want me. Don't listen to christians. One thing I have learned; we can learn from each other and there are some incredible teachers. Yet, seek Christ to understand His wanting of you. He is waiting. He wants me to do something? No, he wants to love you. Untethered, without guile. Without demands. This love often difficult for humans to comprehend. This is the mystery.
The Holy Spirit moves within us all to help us to experience, get a glimpse into this mystery. To get some form of comprehension. Because if we cannot get even the tiniest inkling of comprehension, we cannot experience it.
Yet as I watched, I saw myself. This is why this movie was so important. For me, it was the realisation that I was any number of characters within that movie. The follower, the guards, the torturers, that wild crowd accusing, the woman holding the clothe, or Christ. Being punished and betrayed.
The Blessed Mother. Woman complain there isn't enough, about us/woman to follow. In christian teachings. Not true. Just in that movie alone are all the answers. She was amazing!! Truly inspiring!! Actions speak louder than words. Oftentimes it is the best way. She had the faith to let go, she had the faith to follow, she had such a faith it is an inspiration.
Christ? Well, I closed my eyes. Cried like many others. Yet was so involved with Christ, that I felt comforted. This wasn't supposed to happen. If one person had changed there minds, or taken a different route, it never would have? Each of us, plays a part. We are all intricate facets of this world. Believe it, take it seriously. What am I? I walked away, wondering, what am I? Which part have I chosen. Why did I choose it? That began my walk with Christ.
With alot of help from the Blessed Mother. We catholics don't worship her. We adore her. She is my mother!! Pray to her, and she will intercede for me. Interceding, were those times I doubted Christ. Doubted myself; I can't do this! She said, yes! You can! He doesn't want me! Yes he does. Here he is. She's the Mom, that when I falter or fail. Make a truly wrong choice.
Because of course, now that I am christian I shouldn't be making wrong choices, I should be perfect! Nothing bad should ever happen to me again! So how can I make a wrong choice? St Theresa of Avila, "The Way of Perfection." I am not perfect Christ is. I will always fail, will always make mistakes, it is human nature. Christ is the depth of that mistake. With Christ it can lessen.
The Blessed Mother says, "He is still here." Like when we go to Mom, "is he mad?" She is that calming presence that helps me to approach him again. I have failed. It is oftentimes my own shame, guilt, or remorse that keeps me from Him. Don't let that happen! Try again. That ability to keep on trying. Hope. She is hope. Don't let go of Him and it will get better. I may let go, but He never does.
So I guess, it's not all about giving something up. Each year is an opportunity to renew faith in Christ. To visit our own personal deserts and come out of it hopefull. Forgiven. Cleansed and purified. To review our own suffering and, why do I suffer? To remove those obstacles, to have the opportunity to live a better life. A gift from God we were all given.
Love
Accept it.
God Bless has blessed us all!
posted by Saoirse at 10:48 AM
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