Clarity

Looking for clarity? It is a favorite pastime of mine. I always want evidence right here and right now. I seem to test God, asking proof of love and care. Yet I know that it is only in trust that I can open myself to the love God desires to give me. Calculating and measuring destroys love in human relationships and does not belong in our love for God either. When I desire clarity in deciding what God desires for me, I must be willing to let go of my need to know with certainty. God give me the grace to respond to love with love and to risk giving my life without certainty about the path. All I need is confidence that the path leads to God and God's perfect love.

Discernment Ideas

Discernment about God's will involves being aware of what leads me to loving relationships. At the end of the day it is good to be in touch with the movements of my heart during the day. What types of interactions led me to be more tolerant of others, more compassionate, more caring and more at peace with who I am? That will give me some clues about where I should be moving in my life.

God is Providing

God is providing a day to get things done, but mostly another day to praise God for all the wonders of life. The crocuses and daffodils are really popping up. It got cold again, but the green shoots remind me that life is hidden in the winter depths. God provides rest for the life of the plants and for me. God hides life where I least expect it. Open my eyes.

Thoughts on Thinking

I have been reading a book by Kathleen Norris called "Acedia and Me." It has some material early on about very old writings on spirituality. She pointed out that before we started talking about the cardinal sins, monastic writers spoke of "bad thoughts." It got me to pondering how the way I am thinking, the pattern of thought that I allow to continue in my head and heart, leads to some negative attitudes and then behaviors that are hurtful to others. I want to clean up my judgemental thoughts and my worrying. I have a feeling that will lead to more virtue in my life.