I am so tired...

[AlanFromWichita]

Alan,

I do know what you mean about being able to communicate with people who have different beliefs and finding God in every human being. But it just gets so tiring sometimes. It seems that the OP is going through some major changes in life and doesn’t need the additional burden that non-believers keep throwing at her. It is OK to let go and move on. Many saints did that in order to completely change their lives. (St. Theresa of Avila comes to mind.) In the end, those friendships that are true and worth keeping will survive changes. But it has to be a mutual thing. The OP is really brave and mature to prioritise things and so prepare for where she is going spiritually. I think more people would benefit from it if they did the same. I wish I did when I started my catholic journey. Live and learn I guess.

Thank you for your reply. I hear you, and I agree with you 99 percent. There is a good reason we have monasteries and convents, with people devoting their entire days to the spiritual journey, without distraction of those who challenge them.

My only yellowish flag (not red flag for sure) about your post is the part “But it has to be a mutual thing.”

Mutual things are wonderful for the soul, but I think we are challenged to go beyond that, to love the unlovable and even the despicable. If we can do that, we have truly made some progress toward unconditional love like that which Jesus demonstrated. That isn’t for the faint of heart, though, and yes I agree it can get tiring. Nothing like spending time with those who can reinforce our beliefs and help us take them further, but then when we are ready, for those who are aggressive about their spiritual journeys, it comes time to go take the next test for proof and purification.

Alan

 

[Contra_Mundum_1]

My only yellowish flag (not red flag for sure) about your post is the part “But it has to be a mutual thing.”

I absolutely believe that friendship has to be built on mutual effort.
Otherwise things are out of balance and can’t be healthy. For example, I had people in my life who repeatedly offended my faith and refused to take my feelings into consideration. That is not friendship. I tried to make it work but in the end decided to distance myself. Never felt better in my life. I think that the OP is facing the same type of situation and thus needs to take a break and dedicate her time to more fruitful things. Hitting your head against a brick wall doesn’t help in any way.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I absolutely believe that friendship has to be built on mutual effort.
Otherwise things are out of balance and can’t be healthy. For example, I had people in my life who repeatedly offended my faith and refused to take my feelings into consideration. That is not friendship. I tried to make it work but in the end decided to distance myself. Never felt better in my life. I think that the OP is facing the same type of situation and thus needs to take a break and dedicate her time to more fruitful things. Hitting your head against a brick wall doesn’t help in any way.

That’s perfectly understandable if you’re looking for friendship. I was talking about doing the “work” necessary to develop unconditional love. Certainly if you’re looking for edification, relaxation or otherwise rest from the “hard work” of going in where angels don’t tread, then yes, of certainlhy you want mutual effort. And I agree that’s what the OP seems to be looking for.

I see no material disagreement between us here. :tiphat:

Alan

 

[Julia_Mae]

Thanks, I’m trying to. I just wish I had a normal family and normal friends to fall back on for support. Maybe someday God will help me find that or at least peace with the fact I haven’t found it.

It’s hard to maintain perspective sometimes.

I’m expecting to find my “normal” family and friends, someday after I pass. Meanwhile, do not give up, RCIA is so worth it, God is calling you strongly and you will find the help you need.

It’s lonely sometimes.

 

[Hopemercy]

I’m expecting to find my “normal” family and friends, someday after I pass. Meanwhile, do not give up, RCIA is so worth it, God is calling you strongly and you will find the help you need.

It’s lonely sometimes.

Solitude can be a grace. When you come to see “loneliness” as simply solitude whith Jesu than loneliness no longer has any sting.

I find now that the only time I feel at all lonely is when I have been too much among folk, especially when caught up in material issues.

This has happened recently and the involvement wrecks peace and prayer.

In being alone we can grow and be a source of grace and strength.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Jesus never preached the health and wealth and avoid hassles gospel

Yet, we are not to cast our pearls before swine. We are to let the dead bury the dead, which sounds like this situation. We are to shake the dust from our feet.

I think Jesus very much preaches an “avoid hassles” Gospel, when it’s appropriate. Poisonous people need to be avoided. Not judged or criticized, but excised. And prayed for.

Jesus called His first Apostles and they walked away from their father in the boat to leave him to finish up the work and I think they liked their father.

Some people are just an occasion for sin. If possible (they are not your children - young children) walk away can be a very prudent and Christian solution IMO.

 

[Edward_H]

Yet, we are not to cast our pearls before swine. We are to let the dead bury the dead, which sounds like this situation. We are to shake the dust from our feet.

I think Jesus very much preaches an “avoid hassles” Gospel, when it’s appropriate. Poisonous people need to be avoided. Not judged or criticized, but excised. And prayed for.

Jesus called His first Apostles and they walked away from their father in the boat to leave him to finish up the work and I think they liked their father.

Some people are just an occasion for sin. If possible (they are not your children - young children) walk away can be a very prudent and Christian solution IMO.

Just put forward some coherent, relevant, and converging Scripture to support what you think Jesus means. I gave some relevant citations above

 

[Julia_Mae]

Just put forward some coherent, relevant, and converging Scripture to support what you think Jesus means. I gave some relevant citations above

No. This isn’t a debate thread, it’s a support thread. You and I voiced different opinions. That’s all there is. It’s for neither of us to say anything about what people should choose after their own discernment.

 

[Edward_H]

No. This isn’t a debate thread, it’s a support thread. You and I voiced different opinions. That’s all there is. It’s for neither of us to say anything about what people should choose after their own discernment.

You can’t provide substantial support if you’re not speaking the truth about what Jesus said. Don’t bend the message of the gospel to support your non-Catholic view of living in this world.

 

[Julia_Mae]

You can’t provide substantial support if you’re not speaking the truth about what Jesus said. Don’t bend the message of the gospel to support your non-Catholic view of living in this world.

I’m not derailing this thread with a round of Scripture battleship. I said enough in my post that anyone familiar with the Gospels can find the passages. I’ll be happy to get them for the OP, if asked by the OP. Not debating ITT. Supporting people dealing with difficult issues. Peace of Christ be with you, Edward.

 

[Edward_H]

The central message of the Gospel is one of love, of total self donation and of doing the will of God.

We are to engage the world, in faith, heroically, with God; we are not to run away from the world, cowering with no real Faith.

Read again the full book of the Acts of the Apostles, and conclude for yourself.

 

[Julia_Mae]

Read again the full book of the Acts of the Apostles, and conclude for yourself.

And the Gospels.

 

[Edward_H]

And the Gospels.

Exactly. No greater love…Peter’s loss of faith when faced with struggles and difficulties.

Read the Gospels and see the real strength that can be found by struggling, with and for God, as opposed to denying Him, or running away from difficult circumstances, like all but one of the apostles did during Jesus’ passion.

Read any book of the OT or NT and you’ll get the same message.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

Some people are just an occasion for sin. If possible (they are not your children - young children) walk away can be a very prudent and Christian solution IMO.

There is a time for rest, and a time to step up and go the extra mile. If you need rest, then rest. If you want to challenge yourself to grow, go outside the comfort zone. If it gets unbearable, you can always jump back into it. If that’s what the OP wishes to do, then I’m all for it. I’ll go round up the pillows and join in myself; honestly I could use some rest even from these discussion forums.

Put her in … the COMFY CHAIR!!!

Jesus never turned His back on someone because they were too lowlife to be edifying to Him. Some have objected to such questions when I’ve posed them, on the basis that Jesus is God so it’s OK for Him but not for us. To that I ask how we know when Jesus is setting an example, and when He wants us to, as my father used to say, “do what I say, not what I do?”

Alan

 

[Hopemercy]

I’m not derailing this thread with a round of Scripture battleship. I said enough in my post that anyone familiar with the Gospels can find the passages. I’ll be happy to get them for the OP, if asked by the OP. Not debating ITT. Supporting people dealing with difficult issues. Peace of Christ be with you, Edward.

Julia Mae; thank you!

In a nutshell £round og Scripture battleship…"…I am too exhausted and too ill to take this on.

Peace to all and peace this day

 

[AlanFromWichita]

I’m not derailing this thread with a round of Scripture battleship. I said enough in my post that anyone familiar with the Gospels can find the passages. I’ll be happy to get them for the OP, if asked by the OP. Not debating ITT. Supporting people dealing with difficult issues. Peace of Christ be with you, Edward.

Strange. Yesterday when I offered to PM you supporting material to avoid derailing a thread, did you not decline and ask me to make it public? What makes this situation different?

I don’t want to derail the thread either, but you could have just given the references IMO and it would have derailed the thread less than arguing about derailing the thread.

Remember this?

It’s useful for enlightenment, and so everyone can practice discernment with as much information as possible.

I post on firms to have public discussions in a community. One of the reasons we need to be open about these things is that a rather large % of the membership does not post, but do read.

My SD is known as the Holy Spirit, Alan, and He’s as real and live as they come.

I fear we are getting off-topic. Perhaps to get us back on course, you’d just share what your spiritual practice is these days.

OK, backing off now and having said this I’ll let it go. To the OP: if you wish, please feel free to report this thread and ask it be deleted on the basis of being off-topic. I’m sorry if I disrupted it any more than it already has been, and I don’t plan to do it again. I thought this particular case required “special” handling, but if I’m off-base, well, there it is. Thank you.

Peace and joy to you, Julie Mae, the OP and others. :tiphat:

Alan

 

[Edward_H]

One can’t derail any thread on the spiritual struggle by pointing to the example and words of Jesus Christ.

The psychobabbleists (think: tower of Babel) have overcomplicated and under-delivered “support”. Our world is filled with nervous and tired little people who have wandered far from the generous and vitalizing love of the Father. God wants us to be serene and joyful even as we struggle - actually by the struggle - and He has given us a means to this form of sanctification, which is holiness.

 

[AlanFromWichita]

One can’t derail any thread on the spiritual struggle by pointing to the example and words of Jesus Christ.

The psychobabbleists (think: tower of Babel) have overcomplicated and under-delivered “support”. Our world is filled with nervous and tired little people who have wandered far from the generous and vitalizing love of the Father. God wants us to be serene and joyful even as we struggle - actually by the struggle - and He has given us a means to this form of sanctification, which is holiness.

…

 

[Hopemercy]

One can’t derail any thread on the spiritual struggle by pointing to the example and words of Jesus Christ.

The psychobabbleists (think: tower of Babel) have overcomplicated and under-delivered “support”. Our world is filled with nervous and tired little people who have wandered far from the generous and vitalizing love of the Father. God wants us to be serene and joyful even as we struggle - actually by the struggle - and He has given us a means to this form of sanctification, which is holiness.

How erroneous and totally lacking in any reality and compassion for others who live their
holiness in a different way from you!

And how lacking in humility you are.

And who are so close to Jesus in that deep holiness because their suffering and their utter faith in Jesus gives them a true peace that you may never know.

There is little true holiness in your words; there is a time simply to embrace and yes, support others. To cary their burdens as well as your own.

OP, blessings and peace from my bed to your chair… Your wisdom shines out to all who know you

 

[Edward_H]

How erroneous and totally lacking in any reality and compassion for others who live their
holiness in a different way from you!

And how lacking in humility you are.

And who are so close to Jesus in that deep holiness because their suffering and their utter faith in Jesus gives them a true peace that you may never know.

There is little true holiness in your words; there is a time simply to embrace and yes, support others. To cary their burdens as well as your own.

OP, blessings and peace from my bed to your chair… Your wisdom shines out to all who know you

The main thing lacking in your response is any reference to Jesus, His words or example. Jesus told us to focus on Him and others - imploring us all to give all - like He showed us on Calvary - because He knew if we focused on ourselves and our own pitiful existence we’d be prone to the elixirs of psychobabbleists like we have become today.