He Leads Me Into the Desert to Speak to My Heart (Hosea 2:16)

We have been reflecting on the Desert experience in my Spiritual Direction Internship.


In the early Christian era, people went out into the desert to gain clarity. It was a way to remove themselves from the hustle and bustle and distraction of city life, so that they could focus on what was truly important.


In the desert every choice could bring life or death, so one must become attune to one's surroundings or risk a fatal fall on loose ground, or be bitten by a poisonous snake hiding among the brush. Tuning in instead of tuning out was the purpose of heading into the desert. Tuning in to God, creator of all one surveyed. Faithfulness brings life.

In the desert one learns to let go of those things that are really unnecessary and burdensome on the journey. Some things just weigh one down and make the journey slow going. One learns rather quickly what one can live without during a desert time.

In the desert one finds solitude. There one can find a place set apart for prayer and contemplation.

In the desert one can be enveloped in holy silence, cut off from the noise and distraction of daily life.

In the desert one can find stability, by regaining one's center and finding true north again which will lead to continual conversion and course corrections as needed.

In the desert one can explore the manifestation of one's thoughts because thoughts brought into the light can no longer bind and enslave one.

In the desert one's contemplation will lead to a desire for action one's action will lead to a desire for deeper contemplation on the idea of loving ones' neighbor as one's-self.

Where do you find those times of solitude in your busy life? Where do you go to seek out the Creator? Where is your desert?

h/t to mrangelmeg who sent me the beautiful picture from his own desert exile in California.

Mystic Monday: John of the Cross

today dear children you get a big dose of John of the Cross because I am immersed in the writing of my final paper of the semester for my Spiritual Direction Internship and it happens to be on the writings of this holy mystic. Happily for us the excerpt for today's meditation also goes right along with our Lenten journey of denial of our appetites in order to make room for God who will enter into the space left behind.


John says:

We are not talking here about giving up things, because that does not
strip the soul if her affective drive remains set on them. We are talking
about stripping away the craving for gratification (gusto, apetito) in those
things. That is what leaves the person free and empty in their regard,
even though she still owns them. Because it is not the things of this
world that take up space in the person or do her harm. [...]No, it is the will
and the hunger for them that dwells inside her.

The person has only one will, and if this gets caught up in a particular thing, it will not be free, complete, single or pure - yet that is what is needed if got is to transform it.

So, you see dear children. When we give up those things we think we can't live without we allow space in our lives for God to enter in and transform our lives. This is the basis for our Lenten fasting, and even though it is already the fourth week of lent, what in your life are you craving to the point of distraction that you can let go of these last three weeks to allow God room to transform you?

Pax

The Wisdom of Lent From a Medieval Mystic

I am zipping happily through my final book for this semester of my Spiritual Direction Internship. This one happens to be on the writings of my old pal John of the Cross.

As I was reading this morning, and practicing my discipline for lent of "being open to whatever message God wants to send to me this lent at whatever time, in whatever way; I came across a wonderful passage in the writings of this spiritual master that defines exactly why we Catholics choose to deny ourselves during these 40 days:

"Say 'no' to your desires, and you will discover what your heart really
desires. What makes you think your longings are God's longings?"

If we stop filling up on the "things" in our lives, then there is so much more room for God to enter in and take that space and do with it what He wills. How much better for us to find what it is that we really need by stripping away all those things that we only think we can't live without.



Make room for God this lent.



Pax

Be Aware . . . Be Very Aware

So we are two weeks into Lent. How's that going for you?

Amazingly after the last few years when my Lents have been extremely arid and I have slogged through them wondering exactly what I was supposed to be "getting" out of the journey; this lent has been just the opposite.

Right from the start I have been bombarded with messages and experiences that have been very transformative that I am beginning to wonder if anyone will recognize me when I emerge at Easter. I began this lent with the simple prayer that Whatever God chose to send I would be open for, and I would be obedient to at least try.

Each day I have made that my watch phrase: Be open to where God is in this moment. Bring God to the forefront in every action, interaction and movement of my life. As the Jesuits say: "Find God in All Things".

Where is God leading, and if God isn't leading what is that particular activity, or interaction, or whatever doing in my life?

Now, I am not saying that I am going around like some holy monk or mystic, always in a trance and always doing exactly what God wills, but I must say that I think I am seeking God's plan in all things, and seeing God's fingerprints where I wasn't able to, or just didn't care to before.

Today I had the grace to talk all of this over with my Spiritual Director. I talked about how being aware of God's movement in my day has made me more aware of the Mass readings, and the Pauline message for the day, or even something as simple as my interaction with my kids. I am more aware of how I can be more present to their needs without being grudgingly so, if that makes sense. Now I am giving of my time to them with an open heart, as God gives to me.

Lent has been amazing, and each new day has brought a new thing learned or a new area that needs work revealed. With each revelation comes a loving response from me, not the old me response of "well that's not fair, nobody else has to give that up to be holy".

My spiritual director noticed that there is an abiding sense of peace with me this month. Something new, he added with a laugh. I told him that I had noticed it too, my prayer is peaceful, my lent is peaceful. My life is peaceful. It is a really nice place to be.

Pax

Here's a Thought . . .

Stop trying to work your lenten program;

then maybe there will be time and room for God to work

God's program in You.

Pax

Good News On Tap

Each year my good friend from Gradual School, Diane does a lenten reflection series as a part of her own lenten journey. Each year she has shared them with us. This year she has gone way High Tech and posted them via video on the web so that a wider audience can benefit from her wisdom.

I have added the RSS feed to my sidebar so that you can link to it if you wish

It is the one called Good News on Tap--------------->




Check it out. You won't be disappopinted.

Pax

What Are You Doing For Lent?

Maybe it is because I am influenced by their close proximity, and I spend time with them each week, but I am not the least bit ashamed to tell you that I have become quite the Dominican groupie over the past few years. So it is with great delight although a bit of sadness that I came a day late to this site, that I present to you this wonderful treat for lent:

Click on the poster to link to the British OP website.


Each day is a short reflection based on the daily mass readings, with a slightly longer one for Sunday. So far they have been quite probing and as I have come to know the Domincan charism, true to form.

I hope this will help some of you to have a productive and meaningful lent.

h/t to Fr.Phillip for the link.

Pax