Do you reveal your innermost (spiritual) self

[Joannm]

If you were to sit next to me for any reason, I would most likely talk to you about something, including the faith and be open about it. But I rarely go deeply into my innermost spirituality with anyone, including my confessor. It is going to take some time before he has a better understanding of me as I am only able to give him glimpse’s of my soul and how it relates to the confession at hand. I want to sit down with an SD for direction and be completly open, but I have to be careful, I feel. Tim

The spiritual direction relationship almost requires that you are completly open about your spiritual life. In fact, my director has a way of coaxing it out of me and he “knows” when I have something going on inside that needs to be shared (that’s kind of scary at times). I have something going on right now that I will probably need to share with him. I know that if I share it with anyone else they will think I am nuts, but Father doesn’t think that way. Whatever I tell him he listens to intently and has such wonderful things to say. Spiritual direction requires trust…and if you have problems with trusting a director then you need to work on your trust issues. I can say this because I do have trust issues, except with him.

 

[distracted]

In your daily life… do you reveal this spiritual self ?

Do you speak openly about the way you love Jesus, Mary, the Saints, the Angels, your faith, what you believe in…bearing witness… sharing your testimony in a one-on-one… face-to-face with family / friends / co-workers / colleagues the way you might be doing here online with strangers?

or do you hide / suppress these feelings / emotions for various reasons?

would you be looked at “holier-than-thou” or “thinks-he-knows-too-much” or “a prophet is never accepted in his own country” or could “humility” be your reason for discreet-ness; or or “you don’t let the left hand know what the right is doing”?

i sometimes do suppress things… for some reason i am a little cowardly in certain “company”… but I am getting used to such things as praying the rosary in public when there isn’t much else to do or whatever… while waiting in line, etc… and i no longer care if someone sees the rosary. In fact, i hope they do becaues it sends a powerful message… whether anyone knows the rosary prayers or not… Sometimes people even smile @ me… Why that suprised me is beyond me…

 

[244Rocket]

I attend daily Mass and most if not all of my friends know it. I believe they respect me for it and I have on many occasions have had people ask me to pray for them which I do. I am proud of my faith and do not hide it. If anyone doesn’t like it, tough, deal with it.

 

[mahalia]

In your daily life… do you reveal this spiritual self ?

Do you speak openly about the way you love Jesus, Mary, the Saints, the Angels, your faith, what you believe in…bearing witness… sharing your testimony in a one-on-one… face-to-face with family / friends / co-workers / colleagues the way you might be doing here online with strangers?

or do you hide / suppress these feelings / emotions for various reasons?

would you be looked at “holier-than-thou” or “thinks-he-knows-too-much” or “a prophet is never accepted in his own country” or could “humility” be your reason for discreet-ness; or or “you don’t let the left hand know what the right is doing”?

I must say I seldom talk openly about my faith. People know I’m a practising Catholic, sometimes they’ll ask for my opinion or advice on something, but it’s never “I love Jesus” type of conversation.
I guess if someone asked me to talk about my relationship with God, it would be an open and emotional testimony. But I never got an opportunity like that.

 

[Adrienne5678]

Actually, I have a hard time opening myself up to people. I just feel like it’s private, here on CAF I still don’t. Not at all really, I just join the groups I like and talk about that. Or I answer people’s questions.

 

[mnealon1]

I try to share my spiritual life where I can, which would be everywhere if I had my way! However not everyone wants to listen to what I would like to share. I have a couple of friends where I can be completly my spiritual self, but with others ( catholics ) if I comment on something they try and change the subject or bring up controversy. I think people feel inferior if I say something they are not familiar with and they get their backs up. I try to be gentle, but will not let an important article of faith pass. My family are my biggest challenge! With some of them ( I have 7 ) I cannot speak about religion at all. Others lend me 1 ear ! and some give me a run for my money.! However recently my daughter had a baby and when in her house I left a botle of Lourdes water on top of the baby clothes.I did not hear a word one way or the other, which is good news! I always make a point of telling them I was at Mass or Confession or recently here in Ireland at the moment we have the relics of St. Therese, so talked about that.
I am learning that in talking about my own religious practices in a very causal way they are becomming more and more accepting that “that” is what their Mother does. I have given them to Jesus in Divine Mercy with complete trust and I know they will be safe
In the mean time I will always speak of my spirituality and when shot down know I have received a great grace.

 

[thevickinator16]

I try to share my spiritual life where I can, which would be everywhere if I had my way! However not everyone wants to listen to what I would like to share. I have a couple of friends where I can be completly my spiritual self, but with others ( catholics ) if I comment on something they try and change the subject or bring up controversy. I think people feel inferior if I say something they are not familiar with and they get their backs up. I try to be gentle, but will not let an important article of faith pass. My family are my biggest challenge! With some of them ( I have 7 ) I cannot speak about religion at all. Others lend me 1 ear ! and some give me a run for my money.! However recently my daughter had a baby and when in her house I left a botle of Lourdes water on top of the baby clothes.I did not hear a word one way or the other, which is good news! I always make a point of telling them I was at Mass or Confession or recently here in Ireland at the moment we have the relics of St. Therese, so talked about that.
I am learning that in talking about my own religious practices in a very causal way they are becomming more and more accepting that “that” is what their Mother does. I have given them to Jesus in Divine Mercy with complete trust and I know they will be safe
In the mean time I will always speak of my spirituality and when shot down know I have received a great grace.

I have a daughter that is so lost in life right now. She thinks the church is all backwards. She had a Lutherern boyfriend who convinced her that the Pope is a joke. Last night she cried at how messed up her life is. She is not far of the mark there either. I told her to talk to Jesus and tell Him all her troubles. She believes God and Jesus hate her for the choices she has made. For the second time in a few months she did not make fun of what I said. She made that staement and listened when I told her that God is all good and therefore incapable of hate or dislike. I agree that by setting an example, it may turn her around and back to her faith. She is Catholic.

The persceution we recieve is many times due to our own families instead of strangers. I find this especially hard to deal with. anyone else have this trouble and how do you deal with it?

God Bless!