BATTLE SCARS

HAIKU

Battle scars of life

We have all experienced

Turn pages of the past

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“God passes through the thicket of the world and wherever his glance falls, he turns all things to beauty.”  –John of the Cross

LIFE’S CHALLENGE

WEDNESDAY’S BLESSING

He is the Life that I want to live

He is the Light that I want to radiate

He is the Way to the Father

He is the Love with which I want to love

He is the Joy that I want to share

He is the Peace that I want to sow

Jesus is Everything to me

Without him, I can do nothing.

–Saint Teresa of Calcutta

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…Life’s challenge in a nutshell…my daily challenge…

is it yours?

DO SOME GOOD

OFF THE CUFF WRITING

With each morning glory I think about doing something good, just something thoughtful…because yesterday I recognized having lost a potential friend whose life is so broken and nothing I have kindly done towards that person can change the situation.  I followed Mother Teresa’s calling, gave my best but it wasn’t enough, so it’s time to “let go and let God.” He will do his holy will.  Thank you Lord for this holy encounter.

HAIKU

Holy grace sustains

with each day’s unfolding love

to glow from inside out

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“The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.  Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.  For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them.”

–Saint Teresa of Calcutta

 

SIBYL OF THE RHINE

AFFIRMATION

How goodly is God to give us such a friend to enlighten the mind.

“Dare to declare who we are.

It is not far from the shores of silence to the boundaries of speech.

The path is not long, but the way is deep.

You must not only walk there,

You must be prepared to leap.”

–Saint Hildegard of Bingen, mystic, composer and botanist (1098-1179)

CURANDERISMO

Greeting the New Day Painting by Leah Dorian

The Healing Art of Mexico

“When explorers first encountered my people, they called us heathens, sun worshippers.  They didn’t understand that the sun is a relative and illuminates our path on this earth.”

–Joy Harjo

Every culture has its special goodness to share with others.  What special goodness can you share with someone today?

SUFFERING IS MYSTERIOUS

Jesus Crucified Image by Devcager

ARTFUL WRITING

Undoubtedly, suffering of any kind is present and mysterious.  I say this knowing two persons close to me.  Marie’s blood test still shows cancer cells and Joanna struggles with  abuse.  My heart is heavy with sadness for each of them.  That is why Jesus allowed himself to be crucified for our redemption.  I hear Jesus say, “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”  Luke 23:34

There was a time when I felt others crucifying me, so I acknowledged I was at the foot of the cross, when immediately Jesus showed me otherwise.  With eyes closed, He drew me to his body and I began to cling over him on the cross.  Today, I still see myself holding on to Jesus in this manner, but with greater confidence in his mercy and love.

“As soon as we become unafraid of the crosses in our life we discover happiness, then all suffering – physical, mental or moral – disappear.”  –Josemaria Escriva’

The remedy is to pray.  Jesus is not repulsed by our gnawing failings and ugly bruises.  He waits for us, for Marie and Joanna, with open arms to shows us that we are mendable and worthy of his love.  If today you feel being crucified, go to the Holy Cross for Jesus is waiting to claim you as his precious one.

One more thing…is it not miraculous that the relic of the Holy Cross survived the recent fire of Notre Dame in Paris?

 

CHAIR OF GOODNESS

Painting of the Blue Chair by Vincent van Gogh

ARTFUL WRITING

I wonder, Vincent, was this a restless battle raging in your mind or was it an epiphany?

The single glow of a kerosene lamp mounted on the verdant wall showcases the colorful chair and textured carpet around it.  The chair seems to want to rock except for the weight of the books and the candlestick in the seat.  Vincent, what are you trying to write or paint about with this blue chair?

This painting has hung on my bedroom wall for a long time; however, as I look intently on it now, a heavenly whisper comes to mind.  Designed at the throne of Goodness, God  has a chair for each of us to occupy so we may ponder about the meaning of life.  We are given a lifetime to sit in it and figure out our unique purpose.

There are many wonderful chairs to admire in this world.  For instance, millions of people go to Rome to view the chair of Peter, the Rock.  In contrast there are the horrific chairs burnt in the Holocaust furnaces of our martyred brothers and sisters.  Just recently I shipped an Adirondack chair and side table to my son so he can comfortably read and play guitar.  My own chair is an antique Queen Anne chair, its chartreuse velour is still in good condition.  It evokes my childhood when I sat on my Papa’s lap to learn how to speak and read English.  I sit, meditate, write and sometimes drift into heaven sitting in this chair.  The goodness of God flows from this chair even after all these years and memories it holds. I love the chair God has designed for me.

As I conclude this story, I hope you have discovered you possess your own predestined chair and can reflect the goodness given you.  And when you sit in it, I trust you will see yourself approach the throne of Goodness because of it and can glory in your well-deserved life.