Seven Storey Mountain, Thomas Merton Quote

I LOVE THIS EXPRESSION AND FULLY AGREE.

"When the spirit of God finds  a soul in which He can work, He uses that soul for any number of purposes: opens out before its eyes a hundred new directions, multiplying its works and its opportunities for the apostolate almost beyond belief and certainty far beyond the ordinary strength of the human being." page 392. Seven Storey Mountain

"I was free...I belonged to God, not to myself: and to belong to Him is to be free of all the anxieties and worries and sorrows that belong to this earth, and love of things that are in it. What was the difference between one place and another, if your hand belonged to God, and if you placed yourself completely in his hands? The only thing that mattered was the fact of sacrifice, the essential dedication of one's self, one's will, the rest was only accidental" Page 406

" You rest in Him,and He heals you with His secret wisdom." page 417

AMEN.
#Seven Storey Mountain, #Thomas Merton

MERIDIAN MINUTE no. 11 ~DELIGHT~

MERIDIAN MINUTE  no. 11 ~Delight~

Fort Bragg, California, Pacific Ocean coastline

“(The LORD) brought me out into a spacious place;

he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

Psalm 18:19

DELIGHT

From my perspective, to delight in someone or something is to experience the object with an inner joy. I find many things to be delightful. These things uplift me, make the day brighter, encouraging my deeper self in a place of happiness and contentment. Often times as I work in the walnut orchard I will observe a dandelion reaching its white head as it stands alone. I delight in this. I will see a nest with eggs in it. I delight in this. I see a flock of turkeys scratching at the base of the trees. I find delight in watching them. A hawk or an owl swoops out of the tree as I come too close. I joy in seeing it. My daughter works by my side as we move sprinkler pipe or pick up scattered sticks off the orchard floor. I smile to myself as she chatters away and I enter into her teenage world. These are small little delights. There are bigger delights, like having someone tell me that something I have said, written, or done has helped them in some way. A friendship that has a connection of the soul, soul mate quality, is one of the greatest delights I have ever known. Such a friendship includes full acceptance in a reciprocal fashion.

In this text it is King David who is penning these words. He has been haunted by his enemies who seem to pursue him relentlessly. “He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Ps. 18:17-19 NIV  David is saying that God delighted in him. I was thinking about the implications of his statement. It is hard to fathom that God in Heaven could delight in us. . .in me! We have the capacity to bring joy to God. This is an emotional word. DELIGHT. Even the saying of it is like a pretty flower, it has a lovely sound to it. One delights in something that brings you satisfaction, happiness, joy, and pleasure. Relationship that is close, satisfying, rich, will have this same component in its center. God delights when His children look to Him, call out to Him, rest in Him. David did this. He loved God, his words document this fact over and over again. God brings him out of the trial and puts him into a safe place. He senses God’s love for him as he reflects back on the experience.

In my Bible this verse has a black ink dot to the left of it. I put the dot there one time when I was reading through the Psalms. I selected one verse in each Psalm that spoke to me in an uplifting way, one that encouraged me. I remember that experience. Often there were several verses I could have chosen in a chapter, so I would think carefully over them to find the one that seemed to have a content about it that made it stand out. Now I can glance through the Psalms and read all the verses with a dot by them when I am desirous of an encouraging word. I also have underlined one specific word every time I come to it. I underline the word “love.” This draws my attention to the context in which it is placed and makes me think of how love relates to the message of that particular passage of Scripture. These are small helps to guide me in my thoughts as I read a portion of God’s Word, making it personal and practical in my understanding.

I think it is wonderful that God delights in us. We are objects of His affection. The experience is especially rich when we turn to Him with open arms and open hearts leaving our opinions and self righteous ways behind. What a wonderful hope is ours when we turn to Him and find our true joy in His salvation and love. 
 Praise Him!

MERIDIAN MINUTE no.10

MERIDIAN MINUTE  no.10

Lilac bushes at the home place, 2012.

“This is what the LORD says:

‘Stand at the crossroads and look;

ask for the ancient paths,

ask where the good way is, and walk in it,

and you will find rest for your souls.’

But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

                                                  Jeremiah 6:16

Where is the good way? We come to various crossroads in our lives, time and time again. Choices need to be made. What should one do? There’s this and that, and that and this. Sometimes lists are made. The positives are thought and considered, the negatives are thought and considered. If it is a spiritual matter, it is of great concern. When it is a major decision like choice of college, career, or employment, the crossroad is a major intersection. “Lord, where is the good way?” One choice can become one of on-going repercussions throughout a life time, significant even if little concern is given to its consideration. Relationships can be this way. They have crossroads too, where choices must be made. These are not always easy to determine ‘the good way.’

As I write this, it is the time of year of graduations. Over the years I have been to many of them: pre-school, kindergarten, sixth grade, middle school, high school, college/university, master’s and doctoral ceremonial events. Often for the person, the next step is under consideration. Where is the good way? is being asked. God says, “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it.” So once the asking is finished, the course is determined as a wise choice (the ancient paths), it is then to be faithfully undertaken. When it is walked in accordance to God’s ways, there will be a sense of rest, the soul will have a sense of rightness. The resting is active and it is peaceful. Jeremiah the prophet, wrote these words. I find them to be easy to visualize. The crossroads in life, and choices that have been made by me, are most easy to see looking back at them. Most have turned out differently than expected. Being at a crossroads is an interesting place to be for any person. Sometimes it is at this juncture where faith becomes sight.

Then Jeremiah stated the unfortunate part, the people of Israel made a wrong choice. They did not choose the good way nor did they follow the ancient paths. They did it their way. The words seem to have a bit of defiance in them, an emphatic statement.“We will not walk in it.” Even before one leaves high school behind, choices are being made. Significant choices as to how one is going to live their lives. It begins very early in a life. “Where is the good way?” Asking this type of question will keep the error of false living at bay. It is like looking in the mirror and seeing the truth of who we are. Cutting corners in our spiritual life can be revealed, things like where we are dishonest or self focused and have not realized it. Societal mores will be in opposition to this type of trajectory. For society is not in favor of the ‘good path.’ It is in favor of ‘the end justifies the means.'

I prayed this verse this morning. I asked God to show me the good way. Why should I pray this at this stage in my life? Very simple, really. I don’t always know what God has for me or what is the right way in a given situation. Sometimes there are two ‘rights’ at a crossroads. I must choose the one God says is right for the path He is opening up for me. It may be the road less traveled, making all the difference.

In the praying of these words with a sincere heart, ‘show me where the good way is’ , I will myself to know God’s way. In His response to me, I center myself in His divine will.

Are we?

Are we following the Church or are we following Christ?

It is a good question is it not?  

As Louie Ricci used to say, "Christ is the answer."  

Christ is the answer,  the reason, the purpose, the truth, and the reality. 

The Church is only as good as to how closely it follows the way of Christ, the life of Christ, and the purpose of Christ.  

The Church  must do everything it can to keep itself in line with Christ's teachings and Christ's ministry.

Read again the way Christ lived His life.  It may change your perception. 

 It may change YOU. 

Are we following the Church or are we following Christ?