Contemplative Haven

May 19 2009

Who Are You Now

Published by gabrielle at 1:36 am under Divine Mercy, Hope, Humility

“His mercies are new every morning.”

Martha Williamson: The People We Were

5 responses so far

5 Responses to “Who Are You Now”

# Cathyon 19 May 2009 at 6:20 am

Really very good…It is an important reflection. I would hope that I have changed and am growing in my faith and life, too. Thank you!
# Carolon 19 May 2009 at 1:48 pm

It is indeed very good, Cathy.

And indeed, His mercies are indeed new every morning; this morning, I woke up as Cindy Crawford. Just kidding, tho’ that is the name I introduce myself with at church meetings. Most of the women roar, but most of the men just nod, “Nice to meet you, Cindy.”

For real, each day begins truly new –in Him. I’m not the same as I was even a week ago, nor are you. But He is.
# Annon 19 May 2009 at 3:49 pm

I think the biggest problem for a lot of people isn’t being disliked by others, but disliking themselves because of guilt or failure or whatever from the past.
Waking up in the morning and saying Yes, thank You God for this new day, and help me to love what You love in me – that’s a good start I think.
# Carolon 20 May 2009 at 11:44 am

Yes, it is, Ann. Very good point for the bulk of us.

I recall a dozen or so years ago making a remark to a RN about mentally-suffering halfway house folks she was overseeing. I realize that some were on drugs for hallucinations and delusions, etc., but I still said it – “What they need more than anything is a hug from God.” She snorted in derision, “They need a lot more than that!” I meant of course if they knew it was God –the Creator of the whole universe! — Who was hugging them, the good God they once heard of (or hadn’t previously heard of), the God Who died for love of precisely themselves–as is; it would be their greatest medicine. I can’t help but think there’s a too-loveless base for insanity, just as there is a too-loveless base for despair.

We all were slated for that Hug..weren’t we taught that we are to know love and serve Him in this world, so as to be happy with Him forever in the next? Well, we can know and love Him here, but we can’t serve Him except via Christ’s new commandment –serve one another. And what does a Parent, Brother, Friend (Creator, Saviour, Personal Champion) do with us? Well, He touches us. He smiles and lays hands on us. He gathers us in as a hen gathers her chicks, and lays down life for ours, as is. He says, “Here, put your hand in My side and my nail prints..Love is alive and well, and Love Himself loves you.” He hugs with joy, despite our goofiness and sinfulness and mere-dustness.. And yet, how can the under-treasured ever believe God is a hands-on God, except in the most terrifying ways, unless we are (as the saints say) His arms. That is why the Church fights so hard to uphold Man’s dignity at all stages of life. She knows we are not just wanted, but Treasured!

Tho’ earthly love-ers of us come in as a close second, people are loved unconditionally only consistently by One. And as St. Paul says, there is nothing that can separate us from God’s love for us. If God is for us, who can be against us? Indeed, God is for us. We may have to shape up, but God is for us.

It is an enormous blessing — too enormous for one to keep to oneself — to wake up knowing we are Treasured. Cherished. Fought for, died for, and — come hell or high water — won. But even we who have known it, forget that, and we might also forget He is the God of “70 times 7 times!” If I woke up, there is no way I’ve exhausted His mercies.

Hence, too, perhaps, the gift of the elderly remaining with us, and with their fellow older Mountain-climbers, long after they inwardly wouldn’t mind being detained from their Hug no longer. It’s another day to love others, if not to be loved. Another day to hug gently and compassionately and encouragingly, if not to be hugged. Arms, winks, smiles, prayers, kind honesty, advice, tears of empathy and pity — in the Name of His — Who left them behind via His sacraments and His beloved peoples of every age, in every age.
# gabrielleon 22 May 2009 at 12:20 pm

Hi all; thanks for the great comments and input. I’ve been busy at work and also dealing with another power outage, thus my delay here. I posted the video because for me, it related to what we’ve been talking about here recently, name-changes, becoming a new person in Christ, etc. Also, I think it’s always important to remind ourselves about not being judgemental, to always be open and receptive and take time to really listen to people, so that we can discover the changes that have been taking place, just as we wouldn’t want to be judged, perhaps, on how we were as teenagers, in our twenties, etc., or even judged at all, since we fall so many times even during one day… on we proceed, with mercy for ourselves and each one we meet…