P
petra22
Guest
You have it half right… Life is a burden AND a GIFT!
- Status
E
Eliza10
Guest
LOL, the verse taken alone sounds a little shocking. I Googled Sirach 25 - I have not read Sirach in a long time - and got the Common English Bible version (I have not heard of this version) for that verse:
“13 Any wound, but not a wound to the heart;
and any wickedness,
but not a woman’s wickedness!”
Well now that clarifies it!
But, the same chapter ends this way:
“24 Sin began with a woman,
and because of her all of us die.
25 Don’t allow an outlet for water,
and don’t give a wicked wife
freedom to speak.
26 If she doesn’t do as you say,
divorce her.”
However, I get what the author of Sirach is saying. While prisons have far more men than women for violent crimes, and many broken men abuse women horribly, yet, while the wounds of wicked women are not prison offenses, they cut deep, and for a lifetime (except for the grace of God).
A
Athanasiy
Guest
It seems to me that we often exaggerate our misfortunes.
In some African countries, people die from lack of water and food.
In the eastern Ukraine, if you for example visit a military hospital some where in Dnepropetrovsk, you can see very young men a soldiers without arms or legs, without eyes with burned bodies. These wounded soldiers often brought in from the front. Some of them suffered more than ten surgeries.
When you see something like that at least once in your life, then you realize that your personal problems is folly compared with the even more awful and terrible problems.
If you think that such comparisons are inappropriate then you are wrong.
Sometimes it is useful to compare in order to be thankful to the Lord for all that we have, and do not get upset over nothing.
In some African countries, people die from lack of water and food.
In the eastern Ukraine, if you for example visit a military hospital some where in Dnepropetrovsk, you can see very young men a soldiers without arms or legs, without eyes with burned bodies. These wounded soldiers often brought in from the front. Some of them suffered more than ten surgeries.
When you see something like that at least once in your life, then you realize that your personal problems is folly compared with the even more awful and terrible problems.
If you think that such comparisons are inappropriate then you are wrong.
Sometimes it is useful to compare in order to be thankful to the Lord for all that we have, and do not get upset over nothing.
F
FghtinIrshNvrDi
Guest
Yes & Yes. First world problems and daily martyrs that always try to make sure that everyone knows that they are suffering the most drive me NUTS!
A
Athanasiy
Guest
no, i mean when I realize that in comparison with other problems, my problem is not a problem at all, and start to be grateful for what i have…that’s the point.
“we are all going to die, and death is inevitable”, even that silly nurse says to Romeo, in ‘‘Romeo and Julieth’’, Brother Lorenzo says wonderful things to Romeo proving his ingratitude to God his Creator…
So the anger of despised love and despair of hopelessness,this is what winds the imagination, in fact you need to remember about something that is more important.
and yes, -there are wounds more serious than wounded love.
B
BobCatholic
Guest
A gift comes with no strings attached. A burden does. Hence life is not a gift but only a burden, a test.
When u give gifts, do u make demands on the recipient? The gift must used for this or used my way?
Do you put requirements or crack a whip on the recipient?
Of course not.
J
JB_Brother_4446
Guest
Maybe God is using this for a purpose that will work to make you further connected to him. I don’t have all the answers, but I know God never breaks His promises. Maybe you should ask God for this. Only He will give you a satisfactory answer.
B
BobCatholic
Guest
No, but how much bad luck should I endure before I wonder if I’m not wanted anymore?
“…but deliver us from evil…” except for me?
Where do you draw the line?
B
BobCatholic
Guest
This assumes God talks to me, which he doesn’t. I agree he will give me a satisfactory answer, but first he has to answer.
Now, you don’t put conditions or requirements on gifts you give. God does. So how is life a gift if God places conditions/requirements on it?
B
BobCatholic
Guest
I don’t take comfort or pleasure in other people’s suffering. I’m not a sadist.
A
Athanasiy
Guest
Why do you think for the believer is useful to visit the sick in the hospital?
to visit the cemetery, to visit people in need and some times to cry with those who cry?
I think that for our soul healing and sobering.
sometimes our imagination fooling us.
sometimes the feelings despised love leads people to despair, there are so many cases, especially among teenagers.
your problem is nothing compared to the other.
humble yourself to God’s will.
Do not be ungrateful for your fate
every thing will be OK, still ahead
Look around
you have the hands and feet
You do not starve
you see and hear
when the last time you thanked God for all what you have?
Why should I consider that God made the mistake of taking from me my love?
may be in reality this love is not real love but my spiritual fall?
Some times it can be exaclty as Apostle James says- ‘‘You do not receive because you ask for your lust’’…
J
JB_Brother_4446
Guest
Maybe you aren’t listening.
J
JM3
Guest
catholicspiritualdirection.org/abandonment.pdf
“To behold divine mysteries it is necessary to shut the eyes to what is external, and to cease to reason. You speak, Lord, to the generality of men by great public events. Every resolution is as a wave from the sea of Your providence, raising storms and tempests in the minds of those who question Your mysterious action. You speak also to each individual soul by the circumstances occurring at every moment of life. Instead, however, of hearing Your voice in these events, and receiving with awe what is obscure and mysterious in these Your words, men see in them only the outward aspect, or chance, or the caprice of others, and censure everything. They would like to add, or diminish, or reform, and to allow themselves absolute liberty to commit any excess, the least of which would be a criminal and unheard-of outrage. They respect the holy Scriptures, however, and will not permit the addition of even a single comma. “It is the word of God” say they, “and is altogether holy and true. If we cannot understand it, it is all the more wonderful and we must give glory to God, and render justice to the depths of His wisdom.” All this is perfectly true, but when you read God’s word from moment to moment, not written with ink on paper, but on your soul with suffering, and the daily actions that you have to perform, does it not merit some attention on your part? How is it that you cannot see the will of God in all this? Instead you find fault with everything that happens, nothing pleases you. Do you not see that you are gauging everything by the senses, and by reason, not by faith the only true standard; and that when you read the word of God in the sacred Scriptures with the eye of faith, you do wrong to make use only of your reason in reading the word in His marvellous operations.”
Book 1, Chapter 2, Section 4
B
BobCatholic
Guest
It benefits them, not the believer. The believer is required to be unselfish (which means no self benefit)
Again, I don’t compare myself to others.
I don’t take comfort in knowing others suffer more - I’m not a sadist.
Not on earth.
No, I ask for good things (like a job) but that’s evil in his eyes.
B
BobCatholic
Guest
Or maybe I’m “deaf.”
I have ADHD and can’t sit in quiet waiting twenty hours for God to talk to me. I have this worthless and stupid imperfection.
A
Athanasiy
Guest
Again I reminded of an episode of Romeo and Juliet:
BENVOLIO
‘‘Tut man, one fire burns out another’s burning.
One pain is lessened by another’s anguish.
Turn giddy, and be helped by backward turning.
One desperate grief cures with another’s languish.
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die.’’
(BENVOLIO
(to ROMEO) Come on, man. You can put out one fire by starting another. A new pain will make the one you already have seem less. If you make yourself dizzy, you can cure yourself by spinning back around in the opposite direction. A new grief will put the old one out of your mind. Make yourself lovesick by gazing at some new girl, and your old lovesickness will be cured.)
That is the psychological advice from Benvolio, but since we are serious people here and perceive life and love not only in the understanding of Eros but in the full sense, then I think that advice of Benvolio is not the solution.
I can tell you based on my experience.
Мy problem is that in the past I have not yet grown to love.
Love is also the responsiblity and work, maybe that’s why it takes so long time to find my love, and I have to give up on my past dreams and ideals.
I have met spiritual teachers who recommended not to look at the beauty but to look at heart, otherwise the disappointment is inevitable,
The love that ignores me is heavy burden, but when I forget about my problem and trying to look all around and try to console the others, I think in this you forget about your own problem.
but, really every thing will be OK, your love is yet to come.
BENVOLIO
‘‘Tut man, one fire burns out another’s burning.
One pain is lessened by another’s anguish.
Turn giddy, and be helped by backward turning.
One desperate grief cures with another’s languish.
Take thou some new infection to thy eye,
And the rank poison of the old will die.’’
(BENVOLIO
(to ROMEO) Come on, man. You can put out one fire by starting another. A new pain will make the one you already have seem less. If you make yourself dizzy, you can cure yourself by spinning back around in the opposite direction. A new grief will put the old one out of your mind. Make yourself lovesick by gazing at some new girl, and your old lovesickness will be cured.)
That is the psychological advice from Benvolio, but since we are serious people here and perceive life and love not only in the understanding of Eros but in the full sense, then I think that advice of Benvolio is not the solution.
I can tell you based on my experience.
Мy problem is that in the past I have not yet grown to love.
Love is also the responsiblity and work, maybe that’s why it takes so long time to find my love, and I have to give up on my past dreams and ideals.
I have met spiritual teachers who recommended not to look at the beauty but to look at heart, otherwise the disappointment is inevitable,
The love that ignores me is heavy burden, but when I forget about my problem and trying to look all around and try to console the others, I think in this you forget about your own problem.
but, really every thing will be OK, your love is yet to come.
B
BobCatholic
Guest
Doesn’t work when it comes to God. If I’m lovesick for God, nothing else will fit that.
God has no responsibility and doesn’t have to work. Everything is easy for him.
Not on earth. Game over.
P
petra22
Guest
Concentrate on and be THANKFUL for the good you have while you have life in you…
I wonder about the saying of Jesus… For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. – Matthew 13:12
He was saying this along with he who has ears to hear and eyes to see… maybe if you don’t acknowledge the good you have even it will be taken away…
or this…if you concentrate on the bad, more bad will be given and you will have an abundance of it… likewise if you concentrate on the good, more good will be given and you will have an abundance…??? Even Oprah said to write down five good things that happen every day in your life and soon you will see more than five. It’s not that the bad will disappear, but the good will outweigh the bad. God loves you with an everlasting love. He will wipe away all your tears if you trust in him. Spend time with him in adoration. If you can’t get to the church–here is a link for on line…
youtube.com/watch?v=wr1rAv_XOWk
God bless you and keep you.
B
BobCatholic
Guest
I’m grateful for the good.
I’m not grateful for the evil.
That saying is scary. I have no guarantee Jesus won’t take away everything good in life. What protection do I have?
I can handle the good, I can’t handle the bad.
I hate the “catch” - where something good is provided with a “gotcha”. That’s how God works.
God provides a life, then the “gotcha” of “you must do my will or else I punish you by refusing to protect you from evil.” “But I don’t know your will” “You must read my mind!” “But I can’t” Here comes the bad luck.
In the after life, if one makes it to heaven. Otherwise, no.
F
fladreamer
Guest
In another post, you mention you have adhd. I would bet my bottom dollar that your bleak outlook on life comes from your adhd. Adhd is just not simply lack of concentration, focus, it’s much more pervasive than that. Remove my adhd, and I’m a new human being, period. Remove yours, and you’re a butterfly who can’t fathom he ever was a catterpillar. I sometimes peruse forums on social anxiety and adhd/add, the amount of suffering, torment, stagnation is heartbreaking. In other words, if you want constant adversity and frustration in life, consider having adhd. Those holes in your heart won’t be filled in this lifetime, unfortunately. Adhd oftentimes guarantees a subpar life, you’ll have to lay aside dreams, aspirations, idealism and settle for what is.
God could probably heal you right this second, but he won’t and i can’t say I know why that is. He doesn’t seem to be in the business of making our life more satisfying, he seems, from my feeble intuition and understanding, to want obedience, resignation and faith that he’ll see us through and that the next life promises all that you’ve ever wanted to squeeze out of this lemon of a life. But please, don’t kid yourself, some people love life and could not be happier: top job paying top dollars, beautiful healthy kids who make them proud and enrich their life, a spouse they love and admire, good friends, a great future to look forward to and a past that makes them go to sleep at night with a smile. The card you and i picked at life’s lottery is anything but that, sadly. I tend to think God lets genes express themselves, you have adhd in your genes, i have adhd in mine, and God isn’t in the business of interfering with the expression of genes. A last point is that God doesn’t seem too fazed by human suffering. He seems more interested in you embracing your pain than trying to remove it from you. His love seems to express itself more in a willingness to help you bear the shackles of your suffering rather than free you from them. You’ll have to reconcile his benevolence with how he’s dealing with you. In your case and in mine, the default position is to think God is against us, out to get us. Having, as it were, created us for a miserable temporal life, and as a result of that, because of our lack of faith and love for him, a miserable eternity. Perhaps you and I were simply meant to exist to glorify God’s justice.
- Status