Thanks for peace

Even if I am working hard, every moment of peace is a moment of comparative rest.

May 4, 2014

A brief, imaginary dialogue.

“Holy Spirit, what have you done for me lately?”

“How big is your world? 

“How great is your patience? 

“How deep is your perception? 

“How sincere is your humility?”

“Holy Spirit, I don't want you to answer my question with questions!”

“Then I suggest not asking a question you are able, but too lazy, to answer yourself.”

Cells in the body of humanity

Imagine each of us is a cell in the body of humanity.

Some cells in the body carry signals to and from the brain, where other cells process and store those signals.  Some cells carry essential oxygen to other cells, some stretch and contract, allowing motion, and some detect and fight harmful cells.  There are many, many types of cells in the human body.  There can be dysfunctional cells in a healthy body.  In fact, cells die and are replaced constantly.  But the health of the body depends on the extent to which its cells do their jobs well.

Each of us has a role, a function, a job to do in the body of humanity.  But we are free to decide what that role, that function, that job will be, over the arc of our lives and in each moment.  We are free to decide how to contribute to the heath of humanity.  There are countless ways and opportunities to do this, from the smallest act of kindness to the greatest act of courage; from persevering in traditional values and service to leading toward new ways of thinking, cooperating and caring for each other and our world.  We can spread health through education, generosity and discipline; joy through play, entertainment and culture; justice through responsibility, truth-telling and mercy; and peace through love, understanding and forgiveness.

 
Let us choose well and do our jobs well.

April 13, 2014

What do I fear?

Mistakes, embarrassment, pain, loss, grief, diminution of my capacities, death - all these will come.  Fear of them aggravates and prolongs suffering and robs me of peace and joy.

What do I fear?

With love and the Holy Spirit, I can handle anything.

Gratitude and perspective

A secret of happiness is the constant cultivation of gratitude.  It helps to focus on what one has that is good and could be much worse and not on what one has that is disappointing.  Which can be the same thing, viewed differently.

March 23, 2014

Recent discoveries in astronomy have been mind-boggling.  Roughly thirteen million years ago, the universe began with a Big Bang at a point – where?  About a trillionth of a second later, waves of gravitation – some divine afterthought? - went out from that point.  Since then, the universe has been expanding at an ever-accelerating rate – into what?   
If the entire planet earth were as dense as a black hole, its diameter would be seven tenths of an inch!   
My reaction is, “Dear God, you have a lot of explaining to do!”

Today, the response I get is,

“No.

“I don’t owe you anything. 

“I gave you life and the opportunity to make of that gift the best you can see to do. 

“I gave you tools with which to work: the tools of physical capacities and the senses,

the tool of intellect, and the tools of emotion and compassion.

“I have no explaining to do.

“You have a lot of learning to do.”

March 2, 2014

There is so much trouble in the world. 

It is natural to ask, “What can I do to alleviate troubles in the Ukraine, in the Central African Republic, in Venezuela – or in our country?” 

It is natural to be discouraged sometimes. 

But there are a couple things we can do.  First, we can refuse to permit discouragement to keep us from doing what we can where we are.  Second, we can practice peace.  We can strive to increase our capacity to contribute to peace; to think clearly, to speak truthfully, and to act with integrity, courage and love whenever and wherever we are called.