GOD LURES US GENTLY TO HIM

The Annunciation

Many times, I have explained to the hot headed among us that God does not use force as a method of ensuring obedience.

"If you love me, keep my commandments"

~ John 14:15 ~

The Lord knows that true love will inspire us to follow in His path. When He created us, He gave us free will and He uses enticements and gentle allurements to bring us to Him. He never forces or accuses. He doesn't use any kind of punishment to bring us to Him. It is always a free will offering.

He could have decreed that Mary be the mother of Jesus, for instance. Instead, he sent his angel to ask her if she would accept it. He needed her "yes," her fiat.

When I first came to New Mexico, I had a quote written on a little piece of paper that I had kept in my wallet for several years:

"I will lead her into the desert, and there I

will speak to her heart."

~ Hosea 2:14 ~

Any inspiration that I receive in meditation or contemplation is rooted in Love. Whatever action I may be encouraged to follow, if it truly comes from our Lord, is gentle and flows easily. I am not called to take anyone to task or adopt a harsh demeanor, unless my ego is too activated. In which case, the "inspiration" has to be abandoned.

Richard Rohr has written a beautiful meditation in the orbit of this theme:

"If a voice comes from accusation and leads to accusation,

it is quite simply the voice of the "Accuser," which is the 

literal meaning of the biblical word "Satan." Shaming,

accusing, or blaming is simply not how God talks. God is

supremely nonviolent. God only cajoles, softens, and 

invites us into an always bigger field and it is always a

unified field."

† Richard Rohr †

There are times when we are sure we are "right" about a topic - and we may very well be "right" - then we get overly involved in discussions with friends or on social media. I have fallen into that trap, at times. We are well meaning. We want to spread "the Truth" around. It may be the "Truth" with a capital "T" but is it God's will that we spread the word? Never mind if it is a "holy" topic. That is not enough to guarantee that God is asking us to champion it.

I am so grateful to read Richard Rohr's wonderful words today.  It is a blessing to be reminded of what we know, isn't it?

God bless us all
Silver Rose

SAY HIS NAME

Saint Luke, painting Our Blessed Mother

and Baby Jesus

While I am crocheting lace chapel veils in the evening, carefully executing each blessed stitch made of fine crochet thread, I endeavor to say at least a few prayers over my work, after having dedicated the entire work session to the Lord's will in whatever person may use the object I am creating. Sometimes, it is a danger to repeat, for instance, the Jesus prayer, because I feel a deep thrill in my heart at the sound of his name, and I lose a few moments in happiness, perhaps missing a stitch and having to rework it.

I am so terribly grateful to have been led to our beautiful Lord, that I may even shiver at the thought of what might have become of me if the Lord's grace had not descended upon me, allowing me to begin to know him. It is such a treasure!

To become part of His family, when my earthly family was so wretched and devoted to their sin, is a bloomin' miracle. I was well on my way to sliding straight into hell myself, had the Lord not showered me with his grace, thanks be to God!

The Lord is Risen! He is risen indeed. He is risen in our hearts, in the depths of our being. Let us all adore Him in gratitude and love.

My quick thought for the day.

Silver Rose

GET BACK ON THE HAPPY HORSE

Every day when I wake up, I have to do my version of getting back on the horse.  The pains and disappointments of the previous day assault me and I have to throw them off and get back on the happy horse.  I grasp the wooden cross that lays on my chest while I sleep, and I remind myself of the promises of Jesus, the most excellent, happiest of news.  I smile and then I go to my shrine, cross myself and offer myself for the day, promising to do better, be better, incline myself better toward the Lord.  Then I turn on the altar lights and my day begins.  Directly after doing that this morning, I discovered a large, long piece of dog poop in my closet.

Even though I had walked that little dog at 6:00 in the morning, by the time I woke up at 10:00, he'd befouled my closet.  Clearly, the dog is not housebroken and, at 3 years old, it is doubtful I would be successful in training him.  If I lived in a house and had a doggie door, perhaps that would be the ticket, but I live in an apartment and I don't even have a fenced-in yard.  Anyway, he is the wrong dog for me.  I need a dog that will help me, not cause me extra anxiety.

After downing a strong mug of coffee, I took the little fellow back to the shelter.  I do my best not to dwell on the block of sadness at the bottom of my stomach.  Several people will be critical of my taking the pup back to the shelter.  They do not understand that the dog is not a pet for me.  It has a job.  It is a service animal.  Someone else WILL snatch him up.  Bringing him back was the right thing to do.

I was in a lot of pain today and downed two pain pills at once.  They barely made a dent in my pain level.  Some days are just like that.  The pain pills just don't work.  I settled into my crochet project; a baby blanket for the Gabriel Project at Project Defending Life, stopping now and then to load the washer and dryer, cleaning all the fabrics and pillows on which the dog had slept.  The cat was thrilled, and he flung himself across the freshly washed quilt that I arranged over the pink couch.

While I crochet, I say prayers for the baby that is going to use that blanket; prayers for a good life, a loving family, and a relationship with God.  I ask the Lord to be kind to the little one.  While I am doing the laundry or eating my lunch, however, I am coming to grips with the very real possibility that I may never be able to get a service animal.  I have to adjust my expectations.  So MANY things are outside the realm of possibility for a poor person!  I am so tired of the dwindling collection of available options of my life, but I must get over it and resign myself to the reality of the situation.  It is important to me to learn to gracefully accept the will of God, and not to do so with bitterness or sour feeling.  Plenty of people in the world are in far worse shape.  Get back on the happy horse!

I enjoy the beauty of the baby blanket growing between my fingers and I thank the Lord for the skill and the ability.  My carpal tunnel kicks in now and then, and I have to stop for a while, but it doesn't matter.  I am not on a schedule and I can't get fired.

I feel the absence of the dog's energy in the house, and I deliberately displace the empty feeling with the satisfaction of creating a beautiful blanket.  Back on the happy horse.

Silver Rose Parnell