What is it you plan to do?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
--Mary Oliver

Well, for the rest of my wild and precious life, I hope to pay attention....this is not easy in a culture that puts on its earphones and goes its way... I hope to say what I think if it's called for, and shut my mouth when that's the better thing to do.
I hope to find creative ways to build the kingdom while I am still a part of time.

He Will Raise You Up

Recently, a member of the Church sent around a PowerPoint presentation about God which contained a very useful thought:
God loves us because of who God is; not because of who we are or anything whe have or have not done.
When I stop struggling to be "good" or "holy," I am already in the shadow of God's hand and fed with living water and the bread of life. If I am still mired in the struggle, I am focused on myself, and not on God - I might miss the person I was sent to love today - even if only with a kind smile or soft word.
How I love you, Oh God, for being You!

The Day of Unbelief

I have to smile at myself sometimes. I had a day right after Christmas when I suddenly didn't believe in God. What a hoot! I remember when a day like that would have me in a panic. But that particular day, I just took care of myself and told my silly self that if I really believed I had managed to stay sober for 34+ years on my own, I was as dumb as a post and that it would pass, as all such idiocy does....

And now today, that silly self is fine again, wearing the world loosely, grateful and happy and free.

God is so awesome!

From Thomas Merton

To renounce myself to serve truth and to patiently minister to individuals who, one by one, come needing help. To see their need, and try to minister to it, and not worry about results, or rewards. [Journals 4: 280 Christmas Day, 1962]
* * * *
Merton was a flawed man, as I am a deeply flawed woman. Yet here he seems to understand the idea of service in the spirit of mercy...
The less self-centered I am, the more likely I am to be useful to God.
Why do I want to be useful to God?
Because I love God so much it hurts if I try to keep it to myself. And even that love is a gift from God. On this Christmas Eve, I pray for the mindfulness to be aware of the next person God has put into my path whom I may serve, and who by allowing that service will teach me to love.

Senior Moment!

I noticed in re-reading an old post that I had claimed only 24 years of sobriety when I am actually sober 34 years, seven months and some odd days. Well, as they say, as you get older, the days start to run together, I guess even if you're sober!
Blessed Christmas, all!

Sound and Fury versus Clouds of Glory

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life.
Of whom shall I be afraid?

I am continually astonished that I can be thrown off my stride by anything I can perceive to be similar to the kind of discord that inhabited my childhood home. I constantly feel pressured to "fix it" as well! There is nothing that can separate me from the love of Christ, and yet I forget that all the time.

I exalt thee oh Lord.
Keep me in the shadow of your hand
in perfect peace
and grant peace to all on earth at this time of your incarnation.

The Holidays

Over 34 years sober, I approach this Christmas with just a touch of seasonal affective disorder; not enough to spoil the deep love I have for Christmas. I am so grateful to be sober, to be employed, to have a warm, dry place to sleep. I am so grateful to our awesome God for coming to us to be among us. All glory and honor are yours!

Thanks be to God!

I am going to send in my final paper EVER for my 21st Century Spirituality course on Monday! (doing the Snoopy Dance here). This means I will be getting my B.S. in Religious Studies after a long, long, long, long, long, (I am 60 years old now) time.
LOL!

Happy Birthday, OMC!

http://www.orderofthemercifulchrist.org/

Check it out!

Stress Management

Father Art suggests the following:

Just in case you are having a rough day, here is a stress management technique recommended in all the latest psychological journals. The funny thing is that it really does work and will make you smile:
1. Picture yourself lying on your belly on a warm rock that hangs out over a crystal clear stream. 2. Picture yourself with both your hands dangling in the cool running water. 3. Birds are sweetly singing in the cool mountain air. 4. No one knows your secret place. 5. You are in total seclusion from that hectic place called the world. 6. The soothing sound of a gentle water fall fills the air with a cascade of serenity. 7. The water is so crystal clear that you can easily make out the face of the person you are holding underwater.
There!! See? It really does work. You're smiling already. Feel free to forward this if you know others who might benefit from this technique.

Welcome!

I am a nun of the Oder of the Merciful Christ, and a priest of the Celtic Christian Church. Also, a recovering alcoholic - 24 years if I make it until May 28th. I am going to try this, and see whether I have anything to say. LOL!