God Takes Care of Us

I was looking forward to writing each day during Lent using this blog as part of my Lenten discipline.  However, when I arrived at my place of retreat for me three day break from the office,  I soon realized I left my computer power cord at home.  At first,  I gave into the emotional frustration and agitation which in reality seemed to be more about my disappointment of being without Internet vs. not being able to post on my new blog.  After sitting with myself and breathing, letting go of each agitation as it came toward me,  I began to relax into a peaceful and anticipatory mood.  I read more than I have read in months. One quote I want to share with you from Falling into the Arms of God: Meditations with Teresa of Avila is from the opening of Chapter 38 on the prayer of Quiet.  "As we become accustomed to spending time in stillness with ourselves and our God, we may come to notice a natural quietness beginning to develop in our soul.  We may feel it at anytime, day or night, whether we are engaged in activity or in meditation." 
This weekend I practiced feeling the presence of Christ at different times of the day.  I imagined Jesus in the Desert being tempted.  I wondered what He did there for 24 hours a day and how did  He set up a place for being on a spiritual journey.  I imagined myself there with Christ and walked along beside of Him, imagining Him speaking to me about the Desert, about Presence, and about Being Loved.
May you experience enough stillness in your life with Christ to allow the essence and experience of Divine Love feeding your soul.

Let Ash Wednesday Begin with a Question

Matthew Chapter Three tells us that one of the temptations that the devil taunted Jesus with is where he says:  “If you are the son of God, then turn these stones into bread.”   Did it ever occur to you as the reader, that since Jesus is the Son of God, that he would just go to the market and buy bread,  or perhaps make bread or ask his Mother to make him bread.   It is not as if Jesus forgot to take bread with Him into the desert, he was in the desert on a forty day fast.   Bread was not on Jesus’ menu. 

Are our prayers taunting to God when we pray?  Do we pray with a sense of desperation or panic?  God, if you really do exist then please ….

Maybe it will be important to examine how our prayers are more similar to those taunts of the devil rather than as someone who has the Kingdom of God within us.  How would our prayers differ if we came to God from that perspective?   Enjoy the moment as you ponder this question on this beginning day of Lent.

Fat Tuesday!

Psychologically,  it seems people are emotionally settled if they are given  a day to binge before they diet.  I invite you imagine that you really want to make these next 40 days a life changing experience for yourself.  If that is the case, why would you want to participate in gluttony of the soul, spirit, or psyche and start your 40 days with a recovery day from the night before.  The question, How is it that you want to be living your life?