Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the Community!
The snow here has melted a little bit. It is still quite high, though, so we can still only receive air mail…
The psalm assigned for our lesson this past Sunday in Lent was Psalm 95. Many of us know the first part of this psalm as our Venite, the invitation psalm for Morning Prayer. Come!
We are asked to come to God’s presence with a song of Thanksgiving, and to be in a state of joy!
Why do this? It is explained in verses 3-5: For He is a great God, and a King above all gods. Everything that exists belongs to Him.
He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.
All that is, and all that happens in this world belongs to Him. In the long run, He is in control and will eventually make things right according to His plan.
When you encounter a tough situation in this earthly life, as we all do, one of two things will happen. Either you will escape it, or you will not.
Ultimately, however, you will end up all right. And often what we thought of as NOT getting through it OK, actually WAS getting through it OK.
It’s often a matter of perspective and time, and love. It is joy to know that “All will be well.”
Oh, that today you would listen to His voice! (v.7)
Bless you all for who you are and what you do!
Have a great week,
Br. Daniel-Joseph
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
JOY, HAPPINESS AND PEACE
Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends...
I pray that this note finds you all well and at peace.
I came across some interesting characteristics of joy, happiness and pleasure that I thought I would share with you, and have you think about them this coming week. Perhaps you have some additional thoughts about these that you would like to share as well...
One way to look at these three feelings is to associate each of them with the three aspects of who you are - a mind, a body, and a spirit. Using this set of relationships, one could match up happiness with the mind, pleasure with the body, and joy with the spirit.
It is interesting to note that both happiness and pleasure have latent opposites, but when we are talking about our spirit essence, there isn't any. With happiness comes the potential for sadness, and with pleasure comes the potential for pain. But joy (often mistaken for happiness) is really of the spirit, and there is no opposite. Joy is a state of our permanent being, and not just an emotion.
We can pursue happiness, and we can pursue pleasure, but joy is already with us, within us, and all we have to do is let it out. Happiness and pleasure are fleeting, transient. Joy is a permanent part of us that is fueled by the Spirit of God. It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When we catch ourselves wrapped in the issues of the past, or are anxious about the things in the future, we often look for ways to give ourselves pleasure or happiness so that we can "escape." But when we focus on being in the present moment, connected to God and not to the things of the past or the future, the inherent joy of our own souls begins to shine through.
Observe yourself this coming week as you wrestle with your schedules and your issues and problems. See how often your mind drifts to the past needlessly, or speculates about the future aimlessly. Then bring yourself back into the present moment and the joys that can only be found there.
Know that you are loved by Your Father who is at your side. Continue in your prayers, study, service, and practice of the present moment.
Your time-traveling brother,
Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian
I pray that this note finds you all well and at peace.
I came across some interesting characteristics of joy, happiness and pleasure that I thought I would share with you, and have you think about them this coming week. Perhaps you have some additional thoughts about these that you would like to share as well...
One way to look at these three feelings is to associate each of them with the three aspects of who you are - a mind, a body, and a spirit. Using this set of relationships, one could match up happiness with the mind, pleasure with the body, and joy with the spirit.
It is interesting to note that both happiness and pleasure have latent opposites, but when we are talking about our spirit essence, there isn't any. With happiness comes the potential for sadness, and with pleasure comes the potential for pain. But joy (often mistaken for happiness) is really of the spirit, and there is no opposite. Joy is a state of our permanent being, and not just an emotion.
We can pursue happiness, and we can pursue pleasure, but joy is already with us, within us, and all we have to do is let it out. Happiness and pleasure are fleeting, transient. Joy is a permanent part of us that is fueled by the Spirit of God. It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
When we catch ourselves wrapped in the issues of the past, or are anxious about the things in the future, we often look for ways to give ourselves pleasure or happiness so that we can "escape." But when we focus on being in the present moment, connected to God and not to the things of the past or the future, the inherent joy of our own souls begins to shine through.
Observe yourself this coming week as you wrestle with your schedules and your issues and problems. See how often your mind drifts to the past needlessly, or speculates about the future aimlessly. Then bring yourself back into the present moment and the joys that can only be found there.
Know that you are loved by Your Father who is at your side. Continue in your prayers, study, service, and practice of the present moment.
Your time-traveling brother,
Br. Daniel-Joseph, CTG
Guardian
Monday, February 25, 2008
2-10-08 * SURVIVAL KITS
Greetings, Sisters, Brothers, and Friends of the community!
Certainly a wild week of weather has passed by us. Devastating tornadoes in the mid and southern states; and here in Wisconsin we had about 2,000 drivers trapped in their vehicles near Madison this week when a storm hit there. Apparently two semi-trailer trucks got stuck going up a hill on the expressway, and that ended up blocking traffic for 19 miles. More snow came in, and many of the people were trapped for up to 15 hours. The Governor called out the National Guard to assist.
There is a standard survival package that should be kept in our northern cars during winter for times such as this. Some of the items include:
· A snow shovel – if you can get out of your car to use it
· A gallon of drinking water – if it’s not frozen
· A red flag to tie onto your car antenna – a Wisconsin Badger pennant will do.
· A can of Sterno or a coffee can, candle and matches – this will serve as a make-shift heater (keep your window open a crack)
· Your cell phone – so you can talk with friends while you’re waiting to be rescued
· Magazines or crossword puzzle books to keep your mind off of frost-bitten toes
· Snow shoes – in case you must attempt to walk somewhere, but it is not recommended
· A First Aid kit – but most wounds freeze quickly anyway
· An extra blanket and pillow – in case you finish the magazines or crosswords puzzle books
· A flash light
· And, of course, chocolate and/or beef jerky – to trade with other stranded motorists for blankets or matches
OK, you ask, where am I going with this? Well, it made me think about when we are on our spiritual journey and get stuck. Many times I will be sailing along, and sooner or later I seem to have gotten off track and stuck in a spiritual snow drift. My joy seems to have slipped away, the rhythm of my day is shot, and things are beginning to look a little bleak outside.
Time to grab the spiritual survival kit. Here’s a few items I would suggest to have handy:
· Your prayer book – get right back to a conversation with God through your prayers
· Your cell phone – call a friend and talk about what’s happening
· Your Rule of Life – this is your daily road map; take a look at where you are and where you’re going
· Count your blessings – keep things in perspective; moods and problems come and go; This, too, shall pass.
· Know that you are loved so very dearly by your Lord and Savior!
· Journal – write a little about what’s happening – putting things to words helps to bring a clearer understanding of what’s happening
· Write a letter to someone and thank them for something; bless them for being who they are
· Nature – get out a get under the moon! An oldie oldie song that reminds us to take a walk
· Go to Mass – the place where all our worlds become one in Him
· Chocolate – well, this may not be for you, but it is a personal favorite of mine (in moderation)
What would you add to either list in your case? I’d be curious to know.
Well, the weather is improving – as I write this the temperature has climbed to -10 degrees and the wind chill has improved to -30 degrees. Gosh, I can almost see a crocus popping up!
Love you all,
Br. Daniel-Joseph
Certainly a wild week of weather has passed by us. Devastating tornadoes in the mid and southern states; and here in Wisconsin we had about 2,000 drivers trapped in their vehicles near Madison this week when a storm hit there. Apparently two semi-trailer trucks got stuck going up a hill on the expressway, and that ended up blocking traffic for 19 miles. More snow came in, and many of the people were trapped for up to 15 hours. The Governor called out the National Guard to assist.
There is a standard survival package that should be kept in our northern cars during winter for times such as this. Some of the items include:
· A snow shovel – if you can get out of your car to use it
· A gallon of drinking water – if it’s not frozen
· A red flag to tie onto your car antenna – a Wisconsin Badger pennant will do.
· A can of Sterno or a coffee can, candle and matches – this will serve as a make-shift heater (keep your window open a crack)
· Your cell phone – so you can talk with friends while you’re waiting to be rescued
· Magazines or crossword puzzle books to keep your mind off of frost-bitten toes
· Snow shoes – in case you must attempt to walk somewhere, but it is not recommended
· A First Aid kit – but most wounds freeze quickly anyway
· An extra blanket and pillow – in case you finish the magazines or crosswords puzzle books
· A flash light
· And, of course, chocolate and/or beef jerky – to trade with other stranded motorists for blankets or matches
OK, you ask, where am I going with this? Well, it made me think about when we are on our spiritual journey and get stuck. Many times I will be sailing along, and sooner or later I seem to have gotten off track and stuck in a spiritual snow drift. My joy seems to have slipped away, the rhythm of my day is shot, and things are beginning to look a little bleak outside.
Time to grab the spiritual survival kit. Here’s a few items I would suggest to have handy:
· Your prayer book – get right back to a conversation with God through your prayers
· Your cell phone – call a friend and talk about what’s happening
· Your Rule of Life – this is your daily road map; take a look at where you are and where you’re going
· Count your blessings – keep things in perspective; moods and problems come and go; This, too, shall pass.
· Know that you are loved so very dearly by your Lord and Savior!
· Journal – write a little about what’s happening – putting things to words helps to bring a clearer understanding of what’s happening
· Write a letter to someone and thank them for something; bless them for being who they are
· Nature – get out a get under the moon! An oldie oldie song that reminds us to take a walk
· Go to Mass – the place where all our worlds become one in Him
· Chocolate – well, this may not be for you, but it is a personal favorite of mine (in moderation)
What would you add to either list in your case? I’d be curious to know.
Well, the weather is improving – as I write this the temperature has climbed to -10 degrees and the wind chill has improved to -30 degrees. Gosh, I can almost see a crocus popping up!
Love you all,
Br. Daniel-Joseph
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)