dis·cern·ment
diˈsərnmənt/
noun
noun: discernment
1
the ability to judge well."an astonishing lack of discernment"
2.
(in
Christian contexts) perception in the absence of judgment with a view to
obtaining spiritual direction and understanding."without providing for a time of
healing and discernment, there will be no hope of living through this present
moment without a shattering of our common life"
obtaining spiritual direction and understanding."without providing for a time of
healing and discernment, there will be no hope of living through this present
moment without a shattering of our common life"
co·in·ci·dence
kōˈinsədəns/
noun
noun: coincidence; plural
noun: coincidences; noun: co-incidence; plural noun:
co-incidences
co-incidences
1
a remarkable concurrence of events or
circumstances without
apparent causal connection
2
correspondence in nature or in time
of occurrence.
OK, Let’s see if we can make some sense of this and
that it doesn’t get too confusing.
This pilgrim was going through the exercise of planning to outline the purpose and
approach to the next blog post. Eventually, somehow, the proposed topics were
narrowed down to a select three. So, as this exercise has gone in the past, an outline
was drafted for each of the topics and possible approaches were thought about for
each. Just as the stage of preliminary drafting was to commence the worldly distractions
began like the rains and floods of early spring.It seemed that all the ideas and potential
narratives had become flotsam and jetsam that could never be retrieved.
This pilgrim was going through the exercise of planning to outline the purpose and
approach to the next blog post. Eventually, somehow, the proposed topics were
narrowed down to a select three. So, as this exercise has gone in the past, an outline
was drafted for each of the topics and possible approaches were thought about for
each. Just as the stage of preliminary drafting was to commence the worldly distractions
began like the rains and floods of early spring.It seemed that all the ideas and potential
narratives had become flotsam and jetsam that could never be retrieved.
It wasn’t that the distractions were necessarily bad
but they did interfere with the standard
plan and approach. Discomfort was first to surface and then a sense of anxiety increased.
What to do? The words always seem to appear once that flame of inspiration is mystically
lit. Then it is a matter of human knowledge that attempts to arrange the words in a
meaningful, grammatically correct and maybe even an impactful way. No words were
conjured and the flame was barely visible by that inner eye.
plan and approach. Discomfort was first to surface and then a sense of anxiety increased.
What to do? The words always seem to appear once that flame of inspiration is mystically
lit. Then it is a matter of human knowledge that attempts to arrange the words in a
meaningful, grammatically correct and maybe even an impactful way. No words were
conjured and the flame was barely visible by that inner eye.
Three topics remained….a good ole standard for the
beginning of November -
“Gratitude.”Another topic surfaced addressed the “After Glow of Pope Francis’ visit to
the United States.” Then there was a related topic about “Compassion, Mercy and serving
the poor.” Still, nothing!
“Gratitude.”Another topic surfaced addressed the “After Glow of Pope Francis’ visit to
the United States.” Then there was a related topic about “Compassion, Mercy and serving
the poor.” Still, nothing!
So when in doubt…that inner voices continued to
whisper “let go.” There is an
Ignatianexercise (The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius) on the discernment of the spirits
that proposes letting go three days and let God, that magnificent miracle of the universe
somehow mysteriously,provide the answer. In other words, don’t worry about it, don’t pray
about it, stop trying to force it…just trust God. If you believe and you trust - the answer will
become obvious. There is this story where a father of a sick boy wants the disciples or Jesus
to heal his son. Jesus says to the man,“All things are possible for those who believe .”
This is where the pilgrim completely
identifies with that boy’s father as it is reported that the father responds “I do believe;
it is trust I lack (help my unbelief.”) Mark 9:24.
Ignatianexercise (The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius) on the discernment of the spirits
that proposes letting go three days and let God, that magnificent miracle of the universe
somehow mysteriously,provide the answer. In other words, don’t worry about it, don’t pray
about it, stop trying to force it…just trust God. If you believe and you trust - the answer will
become obvious. There is this story where a father of a sick boy wants the disciples or Jesus
to heal his son. Jesus says to the man,“All things are possible for those who believe .”
This is where the pilgrim completely
identifies with that boy’s father as it is reported that the father responds “I do believe;
it is trust I lack (help my unbelief.”) Mark 9:24.
So, the pilgrim went on with trying to be present to the
moment. The topics and outlines
for the forthcoming blog post lay dormant on scraps of paper and in a word document
on hiscomputer. The weekend came filled with creative energy that was directed at
another passion, the writing, performing and recording of music. This activity filled the
moments and hours for three full days. On the night of the third day he was drained,
exhausted as all energy was spent on the music projects. He hoped that it was all
worthwhile as he went to bed there was a memory flash about the blog. Without
thinking about it any further he decided to focus his attention to
the writing of the post in the morning.
for the forthcoming blog post lay dormant on scraps of paper and in a word document
on hiscomputer. The weekend came filled with creative energy that was directed at
another passion, the writing, performing and recording of music. This activity filled the
moments and hours for three full days. On the night of the third day he was drained,
exhausted as all energy was spent on the music projects. He hoped that it was all
worthwhile as he went to bed there was a memory flash about the blog. Without
thinking about it any further he decided to focus his attention to
the writing of the post in the morning.
The
next morning the routine of making coffee and grabbing his journal as he
settled in his
“quiet time” was a mechanical response to waking and rising. Before settling into serious
reflection, meditation, prayer and writing in his journal he would always like to “warm up “
with a smile by reading the online comics (cartoons from the daily newspapers) that he
received automatically on his computer and smart phone.
“quiet time” was a mechanical response to waking and rising. Before settling into serious
reflection, meditation, prayer and writing in his journal he would always like to “warm up “
with a smile by reading the online comics (cartoons from the daily newspapers) that he
received automatically on his computer and smart phone.
These
are what he saw immediately that morning …
The rest of words fell into place, as it was this brief journey that is his story.
….
Enough said
Any
Road – George Harrison (Smart Phones Click on link)
from G. Harrison's last live TV performance
Suscipe (St. Ignatius of Loyola)
Take, Lord, and receive all my
liberty,
my memory, my understanding
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it
what you will.
Give me only your love and your
grace.
That is enough for me.
amdg …..
Copyright 2015 JF Sobecki
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