If only things would change!

[BarbaraTherese]

cbn.com/finance/burton_change.asp

The article above is worth a read and a portion only of the overall text appears below:

If The People Around Me Would Just Change!

So how can you change when the world around you remains the same?

You make a decision to do so.
The key is to respond rather than react.
A reaction is automatic.
It doesn’t require thought and is generated by external happenings.

A response is inspired –
generated internally through thought, contemplation and prayer.
It means that despite the external happenings,
you choose to answer button-pushing situations in a way
that honors your desire for peace and happiness in your life.

 

[blessedstar]

If things are to change we first must learn to reside in Christ by His grace, this initially is the most painful part of our change or transition. In doing so He resides in us and we must then be willing for Him to act within us so closely that we put off our old self and clothe ourself in Christ by Divine action, this is true change, this is our purification.

The Eucharist is the call to transformation in Him. When we change in, through and by Christ, everything around us changes, little by little the Kingdom of Heaven is forged as such, but it is not forged by being static, it is forged by our willingness to sacrifice and to bend, to give and to willingly be misjudged by others for doing so.

This, in short, is Love, to be Loved and to Love.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

blessedstar:

If things are to change we first must learn to reside in Christ by His grace, this initially is the most painful part of our change or transition. In doing so He resides in us and we must then be willing for Him to act within us so closely that we put off our old self and clothe ourself in Christ by Divine action, this is true change, this is our purification.

The Eucharist is the call to transformation in Him. When we change in, through and by Christ, everything around us changes, little by little the Kingdom of Heaven is forged as such, but it is not forged by being static, it is forged by our willingness to sacrifice and to bend, to give and to willingly be misjudged by others for doing so.

This, in short, is Love, to be Loved and to Love.

Well said, I thought, Blessed Star…we need The Holy Spirit to effect constructive change, change that will unite us to Christ to The Father’s Glory and most powerfully effected in The Blessed Eucharist…and through The Blessed Eurcharist we are inspired by The Holy Spirit in those areas where we need to change uniting one to Christ to The Father’s Glory.
What I think the article may be saying is that it is not the world around me including the people around me who need to change, if I am not at peace and happy, rather I need to change. If I hold that concept then that is my attitude and life is all attitude including the attitude which motivates me (through The Holy Spirit)to attend Mass and receive The Blessed Eucharist.

to give and to willingly be misjudged by others for doing so.

Often (not always) we can be misjudged by others for any reason at all and I think you are very right that we need to be prepared to be misjudged for doing (or being)what one may hold is right and good, constructive, affirming and positive in this world.
As I am loved and desire to be loved is exactly what I owe in justice alone to my fellow human beings and brothers and sisters.

Good Post I thought,Blessed Star…

Barb

 

[ncjohn]

Hi Barb,

This is another thought-provoking area you’ve stepped into here.

As we’ve discussed before, while I generally seek to be at peace with all, like everyone I have a small group of people able to “push my buttons” no matter how hard I try to avoid letting them.

I am coming to the conclusion that this is comparable to the “thorn” that Paul addressed and that they are part of the “refiner’s fire” in purifying my ability to put myself up on the cross where I belong and hang there without asking to be taken down.

As the article says
article:

…Make a decision to stop complaining. Find a solution or accept the situation as is…

While I’ll continue to try to find a solution, I will do my best to accept it until I do and stop complaining (in non-constructive ways) about it.

Thanks for this Barb. It’s a timely reflection as we enter Holy Week as it gives me a chance to spend this week allowing myself to carry this cross and to be crucified that I might rise again.

Peace,

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Quoting John…

This is another thought-provoking area you’ve stepped into here.

As we’ve discussed before, while I generally seek to be at peace with all, like everyone I have a small group of people able to “push my buttons” no matter how hard I try to avoid letting them.

…know what you mean!..

I am coming to the conclusion that this is comparable to the “thorn” that Paul addressed and that they are part of the “refiner’s fire” in purifying my ability to put myself up on the cross where I belong and hang there without asking to be taken down.

I think you are right John as hard as it is to bear when one really tries to overcome something but seems totally unable to do so. I have read that one of the reason The Lord allows one to suffer in one’s own failings with sorrow but no victories…is to learn to put trust in Him and in His Mercy that ‘even this too is for the good’ (Thanks Reen!). More suffering can enter into the picture if I am totally unable to feel any trust in Him, let alone find peace in His Mercy…and to hold to ‘that even this too is for the good’.

As the article saysWhile I’ll continue to try to find a solution, I will do my best to accept it until I do and stop complaining (in non-constructive ways) about it.

I feel that as long as I know I have a problem and am working on it in some way, even by just trusting God to grant me the Grace to meet the challenge…eventually victory will occur. It may not be the victory I determined in my mind…but victory it will be for all prayer is answered.

Then again, there is that question of the balancing act…at times it is right and just to feel offended or whatever and to express it.

Thanks for this Barb. It’s a timely reflection as we enter Holy Week as it gives me a chance to spend this week allowing myself to carry this cross and to be crucified that I might rise again.

The way I look on things and deal with matters myself John, is to trust these interior movements and if you feel led to deal with things as you have stated above, then trust and go with that movement. I have also told The Lord that if this is not the way for me to determine matters, He is just going to have to speak a little louder and clearer or I shall persevere in my error …I hope that is what is called ‘casting my burden on The Lord’.

Barb

 

[blessedstar]

Lovely post John.

I have recently realised that as much as someone may be a thorn in my side, equally I am a thorn in someone else’s side…now that was something for me to think about and if others were gracious enough to bear with me for Love’s sake, I too must bear with others for Love’s sake (that is love of the other and love of God). It also made me want to change those dark parts about me that cause me to be a thorn to others and that is the grace of God, the thorn is disarmed and as you say John, put up on high on the Cross. How lovely is that!

 

[KathleenElsie]

Thank you for this thread. It was a Blessing to me in a time of need. All my life I have tended to react and not respond. This was a timely reminder for me to pause and pray prior to opening my mouth in reaction.

Again thank you.

 

[ncjohn]

blessedstar:

Lovely post John.

I have recently realised that as much as someone may be a thorn in my side, equally I am a thorn in someone else’s side…now that was something for me to think about and if others were gracious enough to bear with me for Love’s sake, I too must bear with others for Love’s sake (that is love of the other and love of God). It also made me want to change those dark parts about me that cause me to be a thorn to others and that is the grace of God, the thorn is disarmed and as you say John, put up on high on the Cross. How lovely is that!

How embarassing it must be for you to discover that blessedstar! Fortunately I am loved by all and have never been a thorn to anyone!

http://bestsmileys.com/zapped/4.gif

Seriously though, that is something that we all need to keep in mind. I’ll even go a little further and speculate that it is often especially true that we are a thorn in the side of the very people whom we consider thorns in our sides. It is the pride from both sides that then seems to prevent reconciliation.

What a wonderful time lent is in helping us to take some small steps along the path toward righting those things where we know in our hearts we are failing. My own list is far too overwhelming so I have to just pick a small cross, preferably a styrofoam one with training wheels (thanks Fr Groeschel for that image!), and have confidence that eventually, with others’ help, I’ll be able to shoulder the more meaningful ones.

Peace, and thanks for that beautiful reminder!