The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. Lamentations 3:22
Most of the time I think we live in a obsessive-compulsive world. Go, go, go – more, more, more seems rather routine attitude. I don’t exclude myself from this. I can get dead set on the task, idea or whatever – and go at it in a rather determined stance. On the other hand, I often feel if something can be done later, then I will do it later. I am a procrastinator in many areas! Continue Reading
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Matt 7:7
So often when I pray with Matthew it comes down to trusting in God. While we can be sure God will answer our prayers and open new paths as we need, we also can be sure God will do it in God’s time … not ours! Continue Reading
Have you ever referred to someone as ‘a good person’? I have, and then I have thought to myself, what does that mean? Is a person ‘good’ because they treat me well, or are easy to work with, or perhaps just have a pleasing nature about them? Keating says this fruit of the Spirit is “an affirmation that all creation is good.” Continue Reading
“Help me to learn God’s gentle way.” Keating refers to the fruit of gentleness as ”our participation in God’s way of doing things at once gentle and firm….” Continue Reading
There are many distractions and temptations that can lead us astray from our intentions. In his description of faithfulness, Thomas Keating describes the “daily oblation of ourselves and all our actions to God.” This phrase strikes me because it speaks of the intentional effort we must make to pray for strength and to turn all of our life over to God daily. Keating says this daily oblation leads to our being compassionate in serving all those we meet. Faithfulness is linked directly to serving others! Continue Reading
Meekness has always been a difficult fruit for me to accept. Too often I have associated it with being kind of wimpish; being unable to speak up or stand up for oneself. A meek person, in my book, was huddled in the corner in fear.
When I began to read Thomas Keating, I began to understand meekness as kindness: a rich and generous fruit. Continue Reading
Peace cultivates a sense of quiet knowing when we are rooted in God. Even when our lives are chaotic, painful, fearful and anxious, we can maintain interior peace. How? By practicing Centering Prayer. Continue Reading
“The Joy of the Lord is your Strength.” I have often said that I don’t mind hard work, stressful work or long hours if I enjoy my job and have some fun. Most of the time I have been able to work like that. It is a real gift that I have enjoyed my jobs. I know people who really dislike their jobs but the result of being able to provide for their family or get ahead financially brings them joy. I suppose that is one way to recognize the fruit of joy: that what we do is enjoyable or the results give us joy. Continue Reading
I remember when I was teaching social justice to high school seniors how we discussed the footprint of justice: charity and systemic change. Fighting with kindness as well as getting to the root of the problem. Twenty one years later I recognize I have been fortunate to do both (this is a photo of St. Joseph House, a transitional housing resource for homeless women and children supported in part by our Benedictine community). Systemic change is essential to eliminating poverty, homelessness, hunger, war etc completely. Continue Reading
Recently I was browsing through Barnes & Noble Bookstore (one of my favorite things to do) and it struck me how many books of daily readings are available. There is an abundance of such titles for women, men, sport enthusiasts and trivia enthusiasts, all designed to leave you with a brief thought to hold during the day. In fact, I probably have a dozen different daily readers on my bookshelf! Continue Reading
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