Feb. 20^th, 2025

 

Today in my meditation and prayer time, I realize that as I get older I have wasted a lot of time seeking approval from others and trying to leave my mark when all of these things are transient. Author Margaret Silf, in her book, “inner compass,” said “ I don’t have and can’t have by the nature of things any permanent hold on anything because I myself am only passing through the created world at this moment in time, and everything else is equally transient. To try to hold onto things or people is to reverse the natural logic of creation and set myself up as creator.” She goes on to say, “ because nothing is mine, in any real or permanent way, I have ultimately nothing to fear from apparent losses in my life, and ultimately nothing to gain from transient acquisitions or achievements.”

If I can learn to live from this truth, then I will be living from the free center of my life, which will leave me free of the constant need to hold on to what I fear to lose, and set me free from the striving for what I hope to gain . If I can do this, then I am freed up to enter into the challenge of becoming who I really am.

I know it’s a journey and I suspect in one form or another I have been taking this journey, but it’s a little frustrating that it’s taken me 70 years to finally get some of these things. I think I understood them intellectually, but in actuality, therein was the rub.

 When you are too focused on your own life and what it means, as I have been at various times in my life, then people and things in some strange way become extensions of yourself, and you relate to the world by comparing yourself, judging yourself and others. At times, it has kept me from entering into true relationship with them, delighting in the mystery of who they are.

I am learning to be kinder to myself and more patient. I am seeing that all that I have, my time, my talents,  and even my weaknesses and shortcomings are gifts from God, for the latter bring me to a place of humility and brokenness, a place were God‘s love and light can reach me. 

This is a process and one for which I will need much grace, support, friendship, and forgiveness, especially forgiveness.

As for the world, and moving forward; I ask that when you consider voting for a candidate locally or nationally, ask yourself if you can see that person taking responsibility for their mistakes and asking forgiveness. If you cannot, then I suggest you move onto to another Candidate who can, for that is where real strength lies.