Contemplative Haven

“True creative sympathy does not throw one into the darkness of another’s life. Stand in the light that has been revealed to you by your communion with him who said, “My joy I give unto thee,” and by so doing help to illumine the one in need.”

* * * * * * * * *

“During your times of quiet, those lovely moments, pools of restoration where you drink deep of the waters of spiritual health, learn to discipline yourselves. Not with the fist, for that soon tires; not with the mind, for that is forgetful; but with the heart. Love will keep you there. Love is vigilant, it is quieting, it is your gently strong awareness, it is the oil of joy that supplies the Light.”

[From: Letters of the Scattered Brotherhood, edited by Mary Strong, 1948]

Share This

For anyone having difficulty in the forgiveness department, here’s a lovely non-denominational site brought to my attention by my friend Kristin.  From the Fetzer Institute, it is called The Campaign for Love and Forgiveness, and offers ideas and inspiration on such things as practicing, teaching, and starting conversations.  Its mission is to “combine public television programming, community activities and events to encourage contemplation and conversation about how love and forgiveness can effect meaningful change in individuals and society.”

I can’t vouch for everything on this site (you’ll see quotes in the sidebar from everyone from Thomas Merton and St. Teresa of Avila to Cher and Lana Turner!), but it appears to be a place of quiet reflection and encouragement.  Click on the “Create a Garden” link for example and scroll down; I think you’ll find some great ideas. 

Have a wonderful day, and don’t forget the famous words of Lao Tzu:

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”  :) 

Share This

A headline caught my attention the other day:  “Canada’s worst neighbourhood”.  I won’t link to the article, but it got me to thinking that as dangerous and heartwrenching as the location mentioned may be, the fact of the matter is that the magazine got it wrong.  The most dangerous place in Canada to be living today is in the womb. 

As Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast stated in a recent message:  “Where is the most dangerous environment in Canada?  The answer is the womb!  Since the 1969 amendment to the Criminal Code concerning abortion, over three million Canadian children have been denied the right to life.” 

What do we do when faced with such staggering and brutal statistics?  Some are specifically called by God for active work in the Pro-Life cause; all of us, hopefully, are called to prayer.

In terms of sanctity of life, we are faced not only with the abortion epidemic, but with human embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, threats to the lives of the mentally or physically-challenged, abuse of the elderly, disregard of the homeless; the list goes on and on.  Everyday, as Catholics, we are called to protect and promote the sacredness of life.

One who has recently discerned the call to a more active involvement is Hush, of Mother of the Life Within.  Currently in formation as a Lay Missionary of the Gospel of Life, Hush’s blog will undoubtedly bring us many keen insights and beautiful reflections as the sanctity of life is explored, from conception to natural death.

We have all been adopted by the Father.  Mary is our Mother.  Everyone’s Mother.  There are no,

ORPHANS OF GOD
[A beautiful and powerful song.  This is not an abortion video.]
   

Share This

This is so beautiful. 

Share This

Thanks be to God for people whose nightmare becomes a dream to help others fly.  Pia, you are, and will continue to be, a blessing to so many.

Direct to YouTube is HERE.

Share This

It is difficult when the outside is hard pressed by the trouble in the world to keep the inside serene, but it is only difficult when you think that you can make it serene. The serenity will be given you; that is the benediction and the reward for those who sought and knocked and found.

If you could for one hour be with your divine self – that is, your outer you and your inner you together in the presence of God – you would change the whole mood of our generation, so powerful is this light.

{Excerpts from:  Letters of the Scattered Brotherhood, Anonymous.  Edited by Mary Strong, 1948.}

Share This

 I am reminded once again, by prayer requests in my inbox, of the incredibly difficult and often painful lives of our elderly; also, of the enormous amount of strength and dedication required of their caregivers.

And once again, I am profoundly moved by the powerful life, spirituality and writing of Servant of God Catherine Doherty, who, in her book, “Molchanie.  Experiencing the Silence of God”, gives us a whole chapter entitled, The Silence of Old Age.

Catherine speaks of her own experience of aging in this chapter, and I would like to share just a few passages with you here:

• “Somehow it never occurs to us that tomorrow or the day after, our steps will falter, that we will be too weak to do what we would like.  And yet, I think this ‘unfreedom’ of old age is also an entry into the silence of God.”

• “…the silence of old age, with its accompanying lack of exterior freedom.  My own heart must learn to accept this lack of freedom….This is good, because now I enter a new depth of silence, and the very essence of poverty, for which I have so longed.  Now I am exceedingly free.”

• “The earth is becoming a narrow sliver, of no more importance.  Heaven is opening before me.  This is the goal I always wanted to attain.  No wonder earthly landscapes pass out of view. God has given me a new key to the landscape of his heart, and nobody can stop me from entering it.”

A new key, a new landscape, a deeper poverty, silence and union.  Let us pray for our elderly, for their caregivers and for ourselves.  No matter whether we are young or old, able to move or not, speak or not, swallow or not, let us pray that we will enter the landscape of God’s heart, and be as Catherine Doherty - although “bound” exteriorly as she advanced in age, able to shout with joy, “I am lost in the tenderness of God.” 

Share This

While doing some reading on the Internet just prior to the feastday of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), I came across these lines, which were discovered shortly after World War II, written on a cellar wall in which Jews had been hiding:  “I believe in the sun, even when it is not shining.  And I believe in love, even when there’s no one there.  And I believe in God, even when God is silent.” 

This powerful message of hope and courage was used as the basis for the song, “Inscription of Hope”, which you can hear performed by the Northwest Girlchoir, on their CD by the same name.  Three of the songs on the CD were also performed in the musical memorial, “I Never Saw Another Butterfly”, dedicated to the 15,000 children who passed through the town of Teresienstadt on their way to Auschwitz. 

I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining.
And I believe in love
even when there’s no one there.
And I believe in God
even when God is silent.
I believe through any trial
there is always a way.
But sometimes in this suffering
and hopeless despair
My heart cries for shelter
to know someone’s there.
But a voice rises within me saying,
‘hold on my child
I’ll give you strength, I’ll give you hope
Just stay a little while.’
I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining.
And I believe in love
even when there’s no one there.
And I believe in God
even when God is silent.
I believe through any trial
there is always a way.
May there someday be sunshine,
May there someday be happiness,
May there someday be love,
May there someday be peace.

Share This