I must have wasted millions of hours of time just fretting, or ignoring that I am fretting, about what I know I need to do. Most choices are small and simple. But our lives are determined by the quality of those small choices. And so for me, small choices have long since stopped feeling insignificant.
Things like what to eat for dinner, how to respond when I get texts like that; what to spend the first hour of the day on. They are paving the future. Every decision, no matter how small, does that. Each choice helps form the foundation upon which we stand. Each choice adds up to who we are.
It could be taking a bath. Or, it could be starting a blog post; dropping my dad a text. It could really be anything; the point is, sometimes I only know once I ask myself the question. It is a microcosm of a values-led life. It is how we translate values into action. Also, when I am disappointed or upset about something. At that moment, doing the next right thing almost always involves some self-soothing and self compassion. The good news is, even if I forgot to ask for a while, there is always a second chance. Life is kind to us like that. There are endless opportunities to make better decisions.
We need all the help we can get…. Like Liked by 9 people. The more she revealed her shallow literal thinking, the more Jesus led her to the Truth. But it is not about our wisdom or cleverness at all. When Peter got it, Jesus noted very clearly that it was his Father who revealed the truth to Peter. Your repost of your training connected with me.
God knows what He is about and He will teach us what we need to know and His Spirit will in-spire us in ways our own clever musings never will. Yes, Marianne, it is simplicity that avails. Dear Charlie, there is always a new level being ratched-up by the angels for our own good.
For our example, look to the frog in a pot of cool water being heated on the stove. Over the many years of going to Marian conferences, short pilgrimages, even refuge and prepping, I indulgied my efforts on a misplaced spiritual focus. My activity is centered on one dog and two cats. I admit to couch surfing, binging watching ROKU offerings while knitting for others— which I think slightly redemns my apparent laziness.
Like Liked by 13 people. Ah well, Anne, whether you choose your cross, like the Lord, or have it imposed on you like Simon the Cyrene, it is how well you bear it that counts. Praying for you, Anne! Like Liked by 4 people. The more I learn and grow spiritually, the more I learn that I know nothing and am growing ever so little. This humbles me and at the same time brings me comfort and peace. I am light as a feather…guided by the fiery breeze of the Holy Spirit. You are becoming a little child who trusts in God and so you can skip lightly!
Ah, Charlie, a great and always timely reminder. Which I will soon find myself forgetting as I try to figure out everything anyway. But each time God gives me a little whack upside the head, I get a little bit better at Trust-Do-Love. Progress in tiny steps. In keeping with the vein of this article Charlie, this past Sunday, I was compelled to ask God to show me him in the Eucharist.
Accepting the Echarist as taught by the Catholic church has always been a challenge for me. Anyway, I was really looking for a sign, a visualization, maybe a picture of Christ or something. Well, I got something. After receiving, I went back to the pew, keeled and started crying my eyes out. I wept and wept and wept. This is rare for me. Something deep took place inside. So God gave me a sign, but it was not at all what I would have expected or imagined. Then I thought after, how great is the sign of inner healing. What a gift the Eucharist is to us.
I love our Catholic faith. As is the reflection on the piece you wrote back in With God, there always seems to be an extra spiritual present under the Christmas tree that gets discovered long after Christmas has ended. God bless you Charlie and all here! I think being a sinner has its advantages though. As I converse with this sinner, my personal experience flows to the top but because of grace, is then filtered through the Holy Spirit as a spiritual balm to the sinners wounds.
Funny thing is, I end up healed a little in the the process too. I also learn as the Spirit pours through me and teaches me about the wonders of God. Beautifully and powerfully said, Phillip. Becks, a little help here…. Are they a type of berm? Lots of weddings to enjoin Beckita. To be a witness to the troth of the nuptial pair is surely a happy but deeply contemplative event for me with so much at stake these days. We do not always play at the wedding ceremony as most of our music is during the reception but when it is during the wedding itself, some of the most edifying music we play is rendered and a beauty so pure rises from our accord!
It is then that I find being a musician the most profound. Reminder to anyone on Facebook, that Fr. Praying, unceasingly, for both a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit and that Our Lady, in special ways, prays for us and with us, as we approach the first liturgical celebration of her in her role, Mary Mother of the Church.
I am in need of a lot of prayers. I work at a hospital and there was an incident last night with a patient. He is fine, however, even though I was actually trying to help him it has backfired and put me in the line of fire. He was helped in the end, but no one understands that I was trying to help him. I wish I could redo the conversation.
But it was limited information in the given moment and now it is all being hurled back at me. I really was just trying to advocate for him. Now I am in trouble again and I am scared. Please just pray for all of us. This next right step stuff can be so hard sometimes. Praying for you and your situation PM. May Our Lady undo all the knots of details for a smooth resolution of the difficulties.
Be humble and continue to trust God PM. Sometimes we do not have much of a choice being thrust into difficult situations. Pharmacistmom, I will keep you in my prayers. Thanks be to God, that all is well with the patient. PM,I am praying for you and your situation. I have been there myself on several occasions and I would always end up blaming myself for the way I handled them. Stressful events bring about misunderstandings. Irene and Servant of God Jerome Lejeune to accompany you to work each day. And anyone who is expecting hospitalization and even if it is sudden , pray for all those who will have a stake in your care.
Especially pray for all those considered ancillary personnel such as pharmacy, radiology, laboratory, etc. Even the person who cleans needs prayers. Blessed be God forever! I am moved to share my thoughts with this beautiful family today. I will try not to ramble. Early this AM [] I prepare my deck to feed the birds and squirrels.
Not just a snow storm, but a Big Storm! What evil is this storm sheltering us from, what is being kept at bay! But not this year, not yet. Very much aware of the Light at Mass this AM and the joy in my spirit as the day goes on. Yes, the creatures came, much to my delight. There can be up to 14 squirrels, 8 doves, 15 blue jays, bunch of juncos, some tit mouses and nut hatches, couple of chipmunks.
So much coming and going! Thanks for letting me share my joy with you. God bless all here. May He who is Light manifest in your lives as only He can do.
‘Just do the next right thing.’
Beautiful Judith, thank you for sharing your joy with us. I will keep you and all in harms way of the storm in my prayers. A wonderful reflection on nature in your place of the world Judith and your interaction with the Lord, the Creator of All. Today I buried a friend, a member of the parish Divine Will prayer group who loved all critters especially the birds. Late yesterday afternoon I had to stop what I was doing and check out a bird with a very loud call — I could tell it was from the parrot family but it seemed so distinctive and strangely alone that I wondered what it was.
My dearly departed mother loved cardinals. Every time I see one and they are not uncommon where I live , I think of her and smile. Mick, my mother loved cardinals too. I think of her each time I see one as well. We had a three tiered cedar wood flower bed that my father built which separated the lawn from the patio in out backyard. In the Spring after my mother passed away, the yellow tulips in the first tier bloomed red.
I took that to be an added wink from Mom. My sorrow for your loss, Karen. You are so right, God does speak to us in awesome ways, some time He even uses words [Scripture,etc. I still sense this is His blanket of protection, each flake His grace upon us. So too, each ray of sunshine, each raindrop, each breeze covers us — every where. How great is Our God! Praying for all here [myself, too]: Praying for the repose of the soul of your dear friend, Karen. Praying, too, for you and all who love your friend.
It seems like things have really ratcheted up as of late. I know for myself, and it seems a number of people here, it seems as it is one thing after another. Some days I do better than others, it certainly has brought me to my knees. Sometimes it feels like weakness in body and spirit are all I have to offer.
I will go to Adoration this afternoon, and pray for all here. I truly do pray for a massive outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Right ow my nuclear family is in Great need of prayer.!!! Praying for you and your family, Anne. May Our Lady Undoer of Knots array all details into a holy, pleasant order. Anne, I will pray for you and your family. I, also am praying for my son especially. Although, I believe my entire family can use prayer. I will add your family to mine and ask the Lord to guide us all. Sheralyn80, reading your post really hit home.
My words of late to God is that I have nothing but my own weakness, uselessness to offer Him. Truly, sometimes I cannot even pray properly. Nothing makes sense because I eat very healthy and take exercise in moderation, yet I truly feel like the dregs of society.
I work hardly any hours and am on support living benefit. I feel useless and like a leech on the tax payer. I know this is a self pitying post, and I apologise. I have experienced many thoughts of suicide, or, more accurately, a death wish. I truly feel utterly pointless. I do believe in God, but sometimes my faith is weak and wavers. I experience a lot of anger and bitterness. I think my sickness in its very nature does impact the manner in which I feel and behave.
Bex, I will keep you in my prayers. It is difficult to eat healthy when there are so many unhealthy additives and chemicals in our food and beverages in both processed and organic foods. Even our OTC and prescribed medications have so many adverse side effects. What we think may be healthy choices, may not be.
When I say grace before meals, I pray that God bless, cleanse and purify the food I am about to eat and rely more on herbal remedies for ailments. May God soon bless, cleanse and purify our lands, minds, bodies and souls. One such is Joette Calabrese. She as an excellent website www. I have taken two of her on-line courses and have spent countless hours on her website, and the info that I have learned has helped my family and me immeasurably.
Perhaps it could help you, too. I have been thinking about the Bible verse that says when we are weak, He is strong. Besides, everything good is God acting through us by His grace. I have had Fibromyalgia for about 12 years, so I know what it feels like to look fine on the outside, but not on the inside. I will keep you and everyone here in my Divine Mercy Chaplet and Rosary. Give God your pain, He can work miracles with it. I went through some health issues in my late 20s, where I went from a strong and healthy, working out hard core going up 55 flights of stairs in under 30 minutes , type of girl to someone who was in constant pain, with arthritis-like symptoms, memory loss, brain fog, panic attacks, and chronic fatigue, among other things, to where I had to take a break every 3 to 4 stair steps when I lived on a 3rd floor with no elevator.
I am on the other side where I see my illness as one of the biggest blessings in my life…. God turned this difficult moment in my life among quite a few others into the most beautiful blessing and moment of grace. It led me to Him…to His Real Presence. I know it can be very difficult at times and you may even lose hope, but be sure to always reach out to someone. I know one thing that helped me out tremendously was typing up bible verses that gave me strength or encouragement during certain situations and I would print them out to take up a whole page.
I would paste them around my place wherever I was sure to see them…usually be my bedside as that is where I would end up being quite often. Hang in there and ask God to show you the purpose in this. Stay as strong and faithful as you can, and when it seems like you have no strength, seek Him and give that to Him, as well. His love for us grows evermore when we come to Him in all our brokenness, illness and vulnerability. May He let us find joy in our suffering and give us all strength to carry our cross es with His wisdom and understanding of the gift it really can be.
You’re Not Lost. You’re Exploring!
Chiming in with prayer for you and your family as well, sheralyn… especially your son right now. Holding all, and their families, from ASOH in daily prayer. Just in case anyone mistakenly thinks I believe in reincarnation may I explain that it is simply that I am open to believing that our loved ones might be permitted by God to reach out to us to remind us to pray for them.
He was a park ranger, but I was the only one opposed to this event, preferring his ashes to be interred in sacred ground. We of course had to back-track but in the process of doing so we were swamped by hundreds and hundreds of butterflies. Karen, I appreciate your explanation, but I wanted to assure you that it never crossed my mind that you might be expressing a belief in reincarnation. Before my mother passed away, we rarely saw cardinals at our house. But shortly after she passed, a pair of cardinals took up residence in a tree a few feet from the house. I firmly believe that she asked God to send them so that we could have a frequent reminder that she is OK and that she loves and is still thinking about us.
Thank you Mick for your reassurance. Karen, no apology needed. His consolation comes to us in many ways and I am convinced that those who seek Him find Him in His creation. Yes, it takes humble, obedient hearts and we are all journeying toward that union. Angels, birds, cows etc. Prayer is the offering in spirit that has done away with the sacrifices of old. What good do I receive from the multiplicity of your sacrifices?
I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams, and I do not want the fat of lambs and the blood of bulls and goats. Who has asked for these from your hands? What God has asked for we learn from the Gospel. The hour will come, he says, when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. God is a spirit, and so he looks for worshippers who are like himself. We are true worshippers and true priests.
- Ganzheitlich gesund gelacht: Von der Kunst des heilsamen Humors (German Edition).
- Protein on MyPlate (Whats on MyPlate?);
- Selbsthypnose lernen nach Anleitung.: Erfolgreiche Beseitigung von ungewünschten Gewohnheiten, Abhängigkeiten und persönlichen Mängeln. (German Edition).
- Meylers Side Effects of Endocrine and Metabolic Drugs (Meylers Side Effects of Drugs).
- Coleridge (Italian Edition).
- Take the Next Right Step.
- Santa punishes little Courtney- A Very Naughty Christmas Story.
We pray in spirit, and so offer in spirit the sacrifice of prayer. Prayer is an offering that belongs to God and is acceptable to him: We must dedicate this offering with our whole heart, we must fatten it on faith, tend it by truth, keep it unblemished through innocence and clean through chastity, and crown it with love. We must escort it to the altar of God in a procession of good works to the sound of psalms and hymns. Then it will gain for us all that we ask of God. Since God asks for prayer offered in spirit and in truth, how can he deny anything to this kind of prayer?
How great is the evidence of its power, as we read and hear and believe. Of old, prayer was able to rescue from fire and beasts and hunger, even before it received its perfection from Christ. How much greater then is the power of Christian prayer. No longer does prayer bring an angel of comfort to the heart of a fiery furnace, or close up the mouths of lions, or transport to the hungry food from the fields.
No longer does it remove all sense of pain by the grace it wins for others. But it gives the armour of patience to those who suffer, who feel pain, who are distressed. It strengthens the power of grace, so that faith may know what it is gaining from the Lord, and understand what it is suffering for the name of God. In the past prayer was able to bring down punishment, rout armies, withhold the blessing of rain. Now, however, the prayer of the just turns aside the whole anger of God, keeps vigil for its enemies, pleads for persecutors.
Is it any wonder that it can call down water from heaven when it could obtain fire from heaven as well? Prayer is the one thing that can conquer God. But Christ has willed that it should work no evil, and has given it all power over good. Its only art is to call back the souls of the dead from the very journey into death, to give strength to the weak, to heal the sick, to exorcise the possessed, to open prison cells, to free the innocent from their chains. Prayer cleanses from sin, drives away temptations, stamps out persecutions, comforts the fainthearted, gives new strength to the courageous, brings travellers safely home, calms the waves, confounds robbers, feeds the poor, overrules the rich, lifts up the fallen, supports those who are falling, sustains those who stand firm.
All the angels pray. Cattle and wild beasts pray and bend the knee. As they come from their barns and caves they look out to heaven and call out, lifting up their spirit in their own fashion. The birds too rise and lift themselves up to heaven: What more need be said on the duty of prayer? Even the Lord himself prayed. To him be honour and power for ever and ever. Families also do a lot less communicating too…. On the arch, Noah used a raven and a dove to find out if there was dry land and was given this sign by the dove returning with an olive sprig.
Several Saints report being fed by birds during their life in exile or as desert hermits. Another phenomenon is the excited action of birds upon the death of loved ones. A good holy priest I knew as his last breath was issued forth, a bird frantically flew against his bedroom window. I have heard others tell of seeing this phenomenon too. Angels appear with birds wings and, of course, the Holy Spirit appears as a dove. And thanks to all Birds-of-a-feather here for your prayers for my friend.
My wife and I returned from a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land two weeks ago. We returned pretty exhausted from the schedule and the physical pound of touring and the lack of sleep that came from replaying the events and places we visited during the day in our minds all night. As I promised all here I carried your intentions with me. I had them as part of a short list I wrote down in my journal which I carried with me to all the venues we visited and in particular to all the places we said Mass every day. On the last day we were scheduled to visit the Wailing Wall.
We sat down the night before and ripped up sheets of paper to write out our intentions so that we could stuff them in the niches in the Wall. I wrote one out for Charlie and the success of his new venture here on this website and in his other actions and intentions. I wrote one out for the success of Beckita here and for the China Conversion Project which she requested and which is close to her heart. I wrote one out asking for attention to all the intentions of all who come here and post and lurk and otherwise look to this community for support and prayers.
The Next Right Thing
Next day we went to the Wall. I looked for a place to deposit all the intentions and found that the niches were just chock full of little scraps of paper and the prayers of literally thousands of people. I can attest that I found a good spot and your intentions are there and probably for a good long time. I will tell you right off the bat that I had a personal encounter with Christ on that tour.
In a way that I never expected. I would reveal more details but all here would think I am crazy or emotional or at the very least susceptible to suggestion. But I will give you a report on the gist of the thing. And why I think it ties into much of what Charlie is talking about. What does it feel like? How do we know we are in a State of Grace? Why is it that it seems so easy to slip out of the State of Grace nearly before you get out of the church parking lot?
Can you slip in and out of a State of Grace? If the State of Grace is such a hard to comprehend topic, a slippery concept to wrap your mind around, and yet is so important to being a Friend of Christ …. Jesus and I walking shoulder to shoulder down a dusty, dry, sunbaked road through the desert. Just trudging along together. Not saying anything just walking.
Now, thinking upon the problem of being and staying in a State of Grace I brought the subject to confession. Part of the problem of staying in a State of Grace … at least for me is … anger. A priest once told me that anger is a sin of old age. We get a lot less tolerant of stuff as we age. A hardening of the arteries? We get triggered to anger on stuff we would just slough off in our youth.
In thinking about my own anger and the State of Grace I came to the realization that it is a process and sort of an ignition sequence leading to blast off:. The irritation trigger can be a little thing. A very little thing. And then we are off to the races. My encounter began as an irritation with someone which led to frustration but stopped short of anger.
In fact it turned out to be a rather pleasant encounter. Thought nothing about it. The next morning our tour awoke to a hard rain pouring down as we boarded the early bus to Nazareth and Cana. We were all bummed at our bad luck. Kinda foul mood as our bus pulled out of the parking lot. Our tour guide picked up on the general mood. He told a story. Some time ago he was on another tour and it was raining. The priest leading that tour in an effort to boost morale stood up and announced that they should all pray for the rain to stop and the sun to come out and that they would all enjoy a wonderful day.
The rain is a blessing. The rain brings life. The moment our tour guide shared this The Rain is a Blessing word with us I experienced the aha! I had a moment of clarity. My encounter with Jesus came in a moment of irritation and frustration the day before. Jesus came to me. Causing and then right In the midst of my blooming toward anger.
- Onion & Pea e-book.: The adventures of the Nuclear Onion and the Atomic Pea?
- ‘Just Do The Next Right Thing’.
- Charlie Johnston: The Next Right Step.
- Darwin Strikes Back: Defending the Science of Intelligent Design?
- Rivière Mékiskan (French Edition)?
My encounter with Christ did not come in the form I expected. I never did walk down a dusty, dry, sunbaked road with Him. It was in a rain storm. The State of Grace — Friendship with Christ — is not a place of eternal harmony and joy and peace. But it can also be a place of irritation, frustration and anger. The State of Grace is Christ taking you, and loving you, where you are.
Christ comes to you. In your happy place or in your sad place or even in your sinful place. You can choose to welcome Christ under your roof just as you are … happy, sad or sinful and He will enter and walk with you in friendship. Or, you can Choose to close the door to Him in your happiness, sadness or sinfulness. Anger is a trigger. Anger can blind us to the presence of Christ right at our side. Walking shoulder to shoulder with us whatever path we are on.
Anger can trigger us to close the door. Our world is increasingly angry. We are being triggered. Social Media and mass communication are vectors of anger. They are triggering first irritation, then frustration then anger. Adverse consequences flow from anger. The appropriate response is to recognize the irritation, then the frustration and to halt the progression or process leading to blast off. To treat the rain as a blessing. As a reminder that Christ is right at your side during these triggering episodes now cascading daily upon us seemingly from every direction.
We all know that there are things worth being angry at. Like Christ in the temple dealing with the money changers. The challenge is to respond to it in an appropriate way knowing Christ is at your side and by relying on his friendship to guide you through. Or as Charlie might put it: Your story reminded me of a time when my kids were little. It had been warm and sunny for a long time — and my little daughter said she hoped it would never rain again and we would always have nice weather. Later that day, we were driving somewhere and the kids got so out of hand in the car I stopped it and got out to yell at them The threat of every parent: Well, before I could even get started with my rant, we heard this incessant weird flopping noise just a little way into the woods.
We had to investigate.
‘Just Do The Next Right Thing’
We came upon a pond, nearly dried up — and many fish were flopping around in deep distress. And so we did. I love that, Storm Tracker Ed. Thank you for your inspirational reflection, thank you for carrying all our petitions with you and thank you so very much for including our Chinese evangelization project. May your goodness return to bless you at least a hundredfold! STEd, thank you for the heads-up on this. Your paragraph about how events are a punishment from GOD certainly struck a chord with me!
Such a profound paragraph that I had to share it on facebook. I really enjoy your essays. Found and interesting quote I would like to share: I try to click on the links, like the article about St.