Revealing Himself to the childlike

[DBT]

Joysong and NcJohn:

Or is it simply that God is God and does what He wills. All that we receive from Him is pure gift.

Yes, I believe this is true. And something I’m beginning to realize lately is that the good God does in our souls is only partially for us. More likely than not the gifts He infuses in us are for the benefit of someone else . . . someone we know, or don’t, someone living or in purgatory.

Right now I’m thinking of a lady in my parish . . . a lady whom I’ve never met or talked to. In fact the closest I’ve ever been to her is maybe a 10 pew separation at mass. However, one of the clearest realities of my life is the certain knowledge God used her to bring me to the type of understanding discussed in this thread. When I talk about living the “unseen reality,” it was through this lady by which it came to be. And I’m equally certain this lady has no idea whatsoever how she was used as His instrument.

I can’t begin to explain how this happens or why . . . just that it does and that “God is God and does what He wills,” as you both say. I’m reminded of John 17 (paraphrasing): “I pray now, not for the world, but for those you gave me because they are yours. And what is mine is yours and yours is mine.” I’m also reminded of St. Therese’s glorious prayer in the last 5 or so pages of “Story of a Soul” inspired by this very same Gospel passage (again paraphrasing): “DRAW ME and we will run and those whom you’ve given me will follow in our train.”

I can’t begin to explain the impact that this has had on me or the reason why; other than again that “God is God and does what He wills.”

• “Draw Me:” As into the living flame of your love: strengthen me, fortify me, be my rock, console me, heal me, purify me of my sins, weaknesses and imperfections. Do with me as you wish.
• “Draw Me:” As in draw down the reserves in me that I’m asking You to build up. I don’t have to know who You’re using it for (although that would be nice ) – just do something good with it. At the end of my days, I don’t want to be left with a large spiritual bank account; a zero balance is what You desire.

To me, all of mystical theology can be summed up in what I’m trying to say and why He gave me some understanding of it is beyond me. All I know is that this is a two-part prayer and both parts must work in union for His will to be done: the active and passive, the infused and natural, us and Him. While we might not understand it all, it doesn’t matter because we know that someone, somewhere is benefiting by the work He does in us.

Ours, then, is not to ask “why” but simply to say “Yes.” For “God is God and does what He wills”

I’m heading out of town for the next few days . . . I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Dave

 

[Joysong]

That all makes good sense, Dave. To sum it up in my head easily, I am forming the picture of the vine and the branches, where the sap flows and nourishes all who are connected with it.

 

[ncjohn]

Beautifully put, Dave. You have a real gift for being able to put your fingers on just the right pieces of wisdom from the saints, not to mention your gift for being able to make it understandable in a meaningful and practical way.

At the end of my days, I don’t want to be left with a large spiritual bank account; a zero balance is what You desire.

Exactly. And I would hope that as I take my dying breath it is seen with a joy of expectation of finally seeing my God that will draw any around me at the time toward Him.

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

I love the meditations that have been posted in this thread! I think I’ll be visiting that web site on a regular basis.

This quote from yesterday’s meditation is especially telling:

If everything God wanted to say could be understood by the human mind; if everything about God were easy to grasp, we would not need his Holy Spirit to explain “mysteries” to us! But it’s not, and we do!

I can hear my pastor when I read this! He is always reminding us to pray to the Holy Spirit for understanding. He feels that the Holy Spirit is the one Person of the Trinity who is sometimes neglected, and he may be right.

Another way to miss God speaking to you is always to look for a dramatic message, a hurricane, a typhoon, a smack on the head, instead of a slight breeze or a whisper. Perhaps that’s why we need to quiet our minds of all the rubbish that’s running around in them --so we can hear God’s whispers.

 

[Nordar]

I found the following Prayer a while back, and I have said it ever since when I spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. I believe the Holy Spirit lead me to this thread, I have a difficult time expressing or putting into words how I feel. This thread brings me great comfort, although I haven’t reached the spirtual level you all seemed to have reached it is truly were my hearts wishes to be with God’s grace.

Dear Lord,
I feel your invitation so deeply, I sit with it quietly and I recognize the longing for something unanswered in my life and realize that your gentle invitation is the answer.

I know, I *feel*you calling me, inviting me, offering to fill the  empty longing I so often try to ignore  The emptiness that is hidden so deeply inside of me is where you belong, loving God, where I belong with you.

How is it that this invitation from you is so personal to me and so cleary addressed to me? Of course my anseer to you is: Yes. How can it not be, after the faithfulness and love you have shown to me in my lfie?

I don’t know where my Yes will take me, Your invitation is gentle, not the fear-filled one I fretted over. You are somehow asking me to change the focus of my life and in doing that, to be more of myself than I am now. I get a little afraid when I wonder where this will take me and how this could change my life. But somehow, I know if I answer, I will become more of what you created me to be. I will become more my real authentic self.

I am beginning to understand, My Lord , that it isn't the results of my Yes that are important, it is my Yes. It is the deep desire I have to be with you, to follow you and to serve you in any way you present to me.

I long to have the real desire to surrender myself so completely to this Yes   and to you. Help me, Lord, not to hold back in my Yes, let me cling to your hand, not to my fears.

"For all that has been, Thanks, For all that is to be Yes"

Yes, Lord Here I am, Yes, YES!**

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

I found the following Prayer a while back, and I have said it ever since when I spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. I believe the Holy Spirit lead me to this thread, I have a difficult time expressing or putting into words how I feel. This thread brings me great comfort, although I haven’t reached the spirtual level you all seemed to have reached it is truly were my hearts wishes to be with God’s grace.

That’s a wonderful prayer! Please don’t be concerned with whether or not you’ve reached a particular “spiritual level” – God loves all of us, and will speak to us where we are, as long as we’re willing to listen. It just isn’t necessary to have fancy or numerous words, or to be some kind of expert in theology and philosophy – that’s a human desire, but not in any way necessary in order for God to speak to you.

 

[InLight247]

I can hear my pastor when I read this! He is always reminding us to pray to the Holy Spirit for understanding. He feels that the Holy Spirit is the one Person of the Trinity who is sometimes neglected, and he may be right.

Another way to miss God speaking to you is always to look for a dramatic message, a hurricane, a typhoon, a smack on the head, instead of a slight breeze or a whisper. Perhaps that’s why we need to quiet our minds of all the rubbish that’s running around in them --so we can hear God’s whispers.

How true this is!
There are two parts of communion with God worth discussion – the acquired and the infused.
The infused is totally up to God, a gift God freely imparts.
The acquired is up to us, that is why it is call acquired.

How we may hear God’s voice and have a good communication with Him depends on how we cultivate the garden of our soul. In today’s morning Mass, my pastor led us to reflect on the following:

St. Teresa always compares our soul as a garden. In today’s Gospel, Jesus talked about seed. The seed of God’s Word could be suffocated by tribulation, persecution, worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, or simply our own indifference, lukewarmness, and ignorance. Each of us needs to cultivate the garden of our soul, to open ourselves up to the grace God bestows on us.

Acquired communion may not necessarily bring infused gift. However, without the acquired communion, it is not very likely to receive the infused.

I would like to know how do you cultivate the garden of your soul so you hear God’s whisper, the still small voice, better and better?

Does anyone care to share experience and shed light?
Acquired or infused, is, after all, a part of God’s revealing Himself.

 

[DBT]

Nordar, that was wonderful!!

Dave

 

[ncjohn]

That was a lovely prayer Nordar, and indicates to me that you may be much further along than you might give yourself credit for. In the end though it’s not about comparisons or yardsticks. It’s about you doing your best to be where and who you are supposed to be before God.

I was touched by InLight’s statement here, for it again goes back, in a way, to our original thoughts:

St. Teresa always compares our soul as a garden. In today’s Gospel, Jesus talked about seed. The seed of God’s Word could be suffocated by tribulation, persecution, worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, or simply our own indifference, lukewarmness, and ignorance. Each of us needs to cultivate the garden of our soul, to open ourselves up to the grace God bestows on us.

The reason it caught my eye is that it is very easy, in our “head” knowledge, to try to plant the garden ourselves. And we may well try to plant it with what seem to be good things, but which actually turn out to be ego exercises. It can be our own “good attempts” that can choke out what God is trying to plant if we’re not careful.

For me, the key is to do my best to sit at God’s feet–as you so beautifully describe–and say “Yes” to whatever plant HE gives me to plant, rather than inviting Him in to show off what I’ve already planted, which may not leave any room for the plant He has brought.

Thanks for sharing that, Nordar. I hope you don’t mind if I print it out to share with my Franciscan group.

 

[InLight247]

Right now I’m thinking of a lady in my parish . . . a lady whom I’ve never met or talked to. In fact the closest I’ve ever been to her is maybe a 10 pew separation at mass. However, one of the clearest realities of my life is the certain knowledge God used her to bring me to the type of understanding discussed in this thread. When I talk about living the “unseen reality,” it was through this lady by which it came to be. And I’m equally certain this lady has no idea whatsoever how she was used as His instrument.

I can’t begin to explain how this happens or why . . . just that it does and that “God is God and does what He wills,”
Dave

I know what you are talking about. Such kind of experience has happened to me too. Often times, things in life have the power of creating permanent effect on our souls. They don’t have to be a big event. A seemingly ordinary thing could generate an unforgettable impression. Sometimes we realize the impact, sometime we don’t. It all depends on how God want a soul to receive the message.

A recent concrete example is a newly hired employee in the company I am working for. Before she walks in the company hallway, I have never closely seen a person whose height is about to my waist. And I am not tall at all. At the first sight, I felt sorry. Then, my heart becomes truly humbled. She will never know her presence made a difference in me.

Another recent example I can’t put into words. It actually happened in this thread. Among the interaction of several of us who posted here, in a split second, I came to know a subtle realization, an “unseen reality”. It is like God grabbed my heart at one moment, and I willingly allowed His grab. Instantly I received His message, deeply engraved in my soul. That is all I know how to say.

So, Dave, I think I understand what you are talking about.

 

[DBT]

So, Dave, I think I understand what you are talking about.

Of that, I have no doubt

Peace to all.
Dave.

 

[Nordar]

That was a lovely prayer Nordar, and indicates to me that you may be much further along than you might give yourself credit for. In the end though it’s not about comparisons or yardsticks. It’s about you doing your best to be where and who you are supposed to be before God.

I was touched by InLight’s statement here, for it again goes back, in a way, to our original thoughts:

The reason it caught my eye is that it is very easy, in our “head” knowledge, to try to plant the garden ourselves. And we may well try to plant it with what seem to be good things, but which actually turn out to be ego exercises. It can be our own “good attempts” that can choke out what God is trying to plant if we’re not careful.

For me, the key is to do my best to sit at God’s feet–as you so beautifully describe–and say “Yes” to whatever plant HE gives me to plant, rather than inviting Him in to show off what I’ve already planted, which may not leave any room for the plant He has brought.

Thanks for sharing that, Nordar. I hope you don’t mind if I print it out to share with my Franciscan group.

Please do!

 

[InLight247]

That all makes good sense, Dave. To sum it up in my head easily, I am forming the picture of the vine and the branches, where the sap flows and nourishes all who are connected with it.

Your summing up reflects what you posted earlier:

Psalm 133
1 How good and pleasant it is
when brothers live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down upon the collar of his robes.

3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.

As the Church (you and me, all of us), Christ is the head; we are the body.The precious oil is running down from head to the whole body. Someone is the eye, someone is the mouth, someone arm, someone leg, someone hand, someone feet…… Each has his own gift and function. Not everyone can be the eye, or the mouth, but as long as we each humbly stands on our own position, we can receive the sap flows from the vine, the oil poured on the head, we can be nourished and becoming the useful instrument of God.

I just want to elaborate a little on your good quotes since the theme has everything to do with what we are discussing here.

 

[blessedstar]

Beautiful posts by everyone.

Childlike trust realises everything is a gift from God and so is always thankful for everything.

 

[Joysong]

InLight:

Each has his own gift and function. Not everyone can be the eye, or the mouth, but as long as we each humbly stands on our own position, we can receive the sap flows from the vine, the oil poured on the head, we can be nourished and becoming the useful instrument of God.

How beautifully you have ‘InLight’-ened us! I was reminded also of these living words that describe our thread, from Ps. 104 and 145:

27 All of these look to you to give them food in due time.
28 When you give to them, they gather; when you open your hand, they are well filled.

15 The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season.
16 You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

We are so blessed to gather together and be fed from one another’s ‘sap.’ :heaven:

 

[InLight247]

I was reminded also of these living words that describe our thread, from Ps. 104 and 145:

27 All of these look to you to give them food in due time.
28 When you give to them, they gather; when you open your hand, they are well filled.

15 The eyes of all look hopefully to you; you give them their food in due season.
16 You open wide your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

We are so blessed to gather together and be fed from one another’s ‘sap.’ :heaven:

Wow! I flipped my Bible to the verses you pointed and highlighted them. Thanks!

 

[InLight247]

I read this story yesterday in Chinese and thought you might like it.
Here is my translation:

The Richest Man

The wealthiest man in town passed by a poor man’s house and saw him saying prayer before meal. Curious about the poor man’s food, the rich man walked over to take a look and found the poor only had porridge and pickles to eat. He asked the poor, “Why are you still saying thanksgiving for such little amount of food?”

The poor man replied, “Everything is a gift from God, even this porridge and pickle. When I was praying, God told me the richest man in town will die tonight.”

The rich man felt being cursed and got angry. Then he thought what if that was true.
So he went to different doctors and had them check him up. All doctors said he was in optimum health. The rich man still worried. He invited the doctors to stay over night with him. He also hired body guards to protect him.

Morning came and nothing happened. The rich man felt fooled and went to confront the poor man, only found he had passed away the previous night.

Did the poor man fool the rich?

He did not say the man had most money would die that night.
He said the richest would die.

So, who was the richest man in town?

Did you guess it?

Have a good Sunday and a good week!

 

[Joysong]

:clapping: Quite a play on word meanings, yes? I really enjoy reading stories like this! Thanks!

 

[InLight247]

Yes. Money does not make us rich, a grateful heart, and the grace, as well as the love of God does. The poor man who died considered himself the richest one in town.

 

[ncjohn]

It occurred to me this morning that part of childlike trust is being able to see even suffering, if properly explained, as a gift from God.

I can remember when I was small, a couple times when I had some small hurt and my mother told me how those little hurts were how God was helping me practice to endure bigger hurts when I had to. I can also recall learning at some point about choosing to suffer something in silence as part of Jesus’s suffering for the life of the world.

As children we can hear these things and accept them, letting them become part of our way of life. If we hear them through our more cynical “learned adult” mind, we are much more likely to reject them as foolishness and a waste of time. As I have consciously tried, however, to regain some of that childlike trust, I am understanding how important and valuable those lessons were, even if they were lost for many years.

That may be why children can be so enthralled and inspired by the heroic suffering of so many of the saints while as adults we might have a tendency to roll our eyes and not even consider the applicability to our own lives, believing instead that we must always appear strong rather than recognizing that our true strength is in seeing our weakness and total dependence on God.

I think we know which is the better lesson for our kids, though we almost always try to teach them to be “strong” as the world defines it.

Peace,