Wordless Yearning
Often times our relationships can bring to the fore our deep and abiding loneliness. We are often attracted to people who do not return it. As the song goes “Everyone here is thinking about someone else”. We seek a place of rest but never find it. Or if we do it is only for a...
Chapter Talk 7/2/23
Humility
"The seventh degree of humility is, when, not only with his tongue he declared but also in his inmost soul believes, that he is the lowest and vilest of men, humbling himself and saying with the Prophet: 'But I am a worm and no man, the reproach of men and the...
The struggle implicit in our faith walk, and prayer life
One of the prisoners that I am writing to, brought up some issues he is having with his faith in God and prayer. I do not know why he is in prison, and usually, I do not look that up unless I feel the need to. I have done it twice only...
Jesus suffered deeply.
I would say that one of the experiences ‘all’ humans have to go through if they survive birth and the first few years, will have to go through more than one “Gethsemane” experience. Where there is great suffering, and the sky is silent so to speak. Heaven seems empty...
Being stretched to our full capacity
Our ‘deepest longing’, what is that? Perhaps, it is what would tear us open. Break our hearts if actually experienced. Is it too good to be true? In fact, it can be easier to believe in nothing, than to wrestle with our deep hidden fears of the Infinite, to...
The Truth Will Set You Free (AA group on retreat)
What has been America's most nurturing contribution to the culture of this planet so far?
Many would say jazz. I, who love jazz, will say this instead: Alcoholics Anonymous.-Kurt Vonnegut
When I was a young man, I spent some time reading...
Growing in inner freedom and trust in God
(189) On one occasion, the Lord said to me, Why are you fearful and why do you tremble when you are united to Me? I am displeased when a soul yields to vain terrors. Who will dare to touch you when you are with Me? Most dear to Me is the soul that...
Be Gracious
July 25—“Be just as gracious toward the little ones as toward the great ones.
Make an effort particularly when you are with people who seem vulgar to you.
Go to everyone with the same gentleness. You are all brothers in Me.
Wasn’t I everyone’s brother? Don’t take your eyes off...
Two Steps Forward, Three Steps Back
December 4—“When you have entered into light, you will comprehend. Until then,
you will just feel your way in truth: you will be able to take love only little by little;
otherwise your mortal eyes would be wounded. But when the eye of your inner vision...
So it is with us, all of us
When we love, we become vulnerable to the beloved.
To love is to invite a certain species of suffering into our lives.
Jesus was fearless, even to the point of going through the passion without turning away.
We know the outcome, it was victory, but the path to...
Dealing with the stuff of life
I am starting to feel my fragility, and how precious my life is.
Knowing that my sense of diminishment will grow, I have
had to learn to deal with it in such a way that it deepens
my faith in God, and how profoundly important the
last years of our lives...
I Still Struggle with Suffering
November 20—Le Fresne. Holy Hour. “Do you believe in Me? Do you really believe in Me? Are you sure that I am in you, and that I loved you even to the folly of My cross? Do you remember My kindnesses for the universe, and those chosen especially for you? Go over...
Fractured Reflections/Broken Mirrors
“We know what is happening in the neighborhood, in our neighbor’s home
but we do not know what is happening within us”.-Pope Francis
I will from a few times a year, have the experience of the ground I am standing on disappearing, and I find myself inwardly...
Prisoners struggle for faith and trust
One of the prisoners I am writing is named William. I would think that for those seeking God, the dark times can be very bleak indeed when incarcerated. It is hard to respond to them sometimes, but then, I find that if I talk from my own experience I may...
Childlike Prisoner
It is interesting writing prisoners. Each is of course unique in how they are accepting their situation. One prisoner that I am writing is named Gregory, and he comes across as very intense, but with a mind that is more childlike than adult. Not sure how far to go with this...
The need for silence
Listen carefully, my son, to the master’s instructions, and attend
to them with the ear of your heart.- Rule of St. Benedict 1:1
Right from the beginning of the Rule, St. Benedict, brings to the fore the importance of listening. It cannot be overstated how important it is...