Wisdom of G. K. Chesterton

Homeless in Our Homes

The Christmas season is domestic; and for that reason most people now prepare for it by struggling in tramcars, standing in queues, and rushing away in trains, crowding despairingly into teashops, and wondering when or whether they will ever get home. I do not know whether some of them disappear forever in the toy department or simply lie down and die in the tea-rooms; but by the look of them it is quite likely. Just before the great festival of the home the whole population seems to have become homeless. [The Thing: Why I am a Catholic]

Returning and Rest

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel;
In returning and rest you shall be saved;
in quietness and in trust shall be your strength
But you refused and said,
"No! We will flee upon horses"--
therefore you shall flee!
and, "W will ride upon swift steeds"--
therefore your pursuers shall be swift!
A thousand shall flee at the threat of one,
at the threat of five you shall flee,
until you are left
life a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,
like a signal on a hill.

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
Isaiah 30: 15-18

Prayer

Lord, rescue us from getting sucked into the cyclone of commercialized Christmas this year. Help! Save us! Help us commit more earnestly to times of prayer, worship, silence, and reflection. Convince us to trad commotion for community and frenzy for friends. Show us what it takes to become more genuinely human that we might recognize You within us and your face in the face of others.

Advent Action

Be radical: stay home this year. Look at your calendar early and block out segments of sanity. When someone asks or makes demands on your time, simply reply, "I'm sorry, but we/I have something already scheduled." Just say no. Remember if this holy season turnout as crazy as previous years, it was at least partly your choice. Determine, instead, to be co-partners with God in writing your own future. If you want to be even more radical, unplug. Block out days, or parts of days, where you fast from electronics: no television or DVDs; no music or radio; no computer. Instead, talk, play games, cook, do crafts exercise, read, pray. (Advent and Christmas, Wisdom from G. K. Chesterton)

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I have to say when I first read this reflection I thought it was humerous, though after I read it the second time, I'm sure it was not meant to be! It is a perfect lesson on how I behave during this time of the year! I was looking in the mirror when I read it the third time. I resolved to do something about it. There is still time!

Though, at times, I am at the mercy of others, I still have the right and privilege of controling the majority of my time. So I have resolved to do something about this. My time is precious. My life is precious. My well-being is precious. Why? Because God created me in love. It is time I "loved" me by taking care of what God so wonderfully created!!! So in "fasting." I will find joy, because I have CHOSEN this time for me and Him! What's more, I'm going try and find The Thing: Why I am A Catholic. It is probably a book from which I can learn a great deal more about ME!

Wishing all a glorious fast!

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Thanks be to God!

Feast of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin

Art by Kim Harmless

Today is the feast of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin. Canonized in October, 2006, she is foundress of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana.

So today I would offer these words of Saint Mother Theodore as I anticipate becoming an Associate of the Sisters of Providence in November.

"Do not give way to
uneasiness about the future.
Put yourself gently into the
hands of Providence."

~~~^j^~~~
Thanks be to God!

Word Play or How To Have a Way With Words

This week as been a treasure of pictures and words. Bev offered me this gift and I offer it to you! I hope it makes you smile as it did me!

APHORISM: A SHORT, POINTED SENTENCE EXPRESSING A WISE OR CLEVER OBSERVATION OR A GENERAL TRUTH.

1. The nicest thing about the future is that it
always starts tomorrow.

2. Money will buy a fine dog, but only kindness
will make him wag his tail.

3. If you don't have a sense of humor, you
probably don't have any sense at all.

4. Seat belts are not as confining as wheelchairs.

5. A good time to keep your mouth shut is
when you're in deep water.

6. How come it takes so little time for a child who
is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who
wants to stay out all night?

7. Business conventions are important because
they demonstrate how many people a company
can operate without.

8. Why is it that at class reunions you feel
younger than everyone else looks?

9. Scratch a cat and you will have a
permanent job.

10. No one has more driving ambition than
the boy who wants to buy a car.

11. There are no new sins; the old ones
just get more publicity.

12. There are worse things than getting
a call for a wrong number at 4 AM.
Like this: It could be a right number.

13. No one ever says 'It's only a game' when
their team is winning..

14. I've reached the age where the happy
hour is a nap.

15. Be careful reading the fine print.
There's no way you're going to like it.

16. The trouble with bucket seats is that
not everybody has the same size bucket.

17. Do you realize that in about 40 years, there
will be thousands of old ladies running
around with tattoos? (And rap music
will be the Golden Oldies!)

18. Money can't buy happiness ---
but somehow it's more comfortable
to cry in a Corvette than in a Yugo.

19. After 60, if you don't wake up aching
in every joint, you are probably dead!

20. Always be yourself. Because the people
that matter, don't mind. And the one's
that mind, don't matter.

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

Sunrise Over Carter Lake

Carter Lake, Colorado, 2009

At the risk of being accused of Photo Overkill, just one more. And I wanted to share this Bit-of-Wisdom by Saint Bonaventure.

If there is anyone who is not enlightened by the sublime magnificence of created things, he is blind. If there is anyone who, seeing all these works of God, does not praise Him, he is dumb. If there is anyone who, from so many signs, cannot perceive God, that man is foolish.

~~~^j^~~~

I must admit that I totally agree with the good saint.

Thanks be to God!

Just a Mom

Again the wise have entered my world. I'm as sure as I can be that there are those of you who have already seen this Bit of Wit-n-Wisdom. But for me it is new. Offered to me by a friend I now offer it to you.

JUST A MOM

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk's office,
was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.

'What I mean is, ' explained the recorder, 'do you have a job or are you just a ..?'

'Of course I have a job,' snapped the woman. 'I'm a Mom.'

'We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it,’ said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'Town Registrar.'

'What is your occupation?' she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. 'I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations.'

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in m midair and Looked up as though she had not heard right.

I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

'Might I ask,' said the clerk with new interest, 'just what you do in your field?'

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, 'I have a continuing program of research, (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters).
Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?)
And I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money.'

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, Testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy!
And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum.' Motherhood! What a glorious career specially when there's a title on the door.

Does this make grandmothers 'Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations?' and great grandmothers ‘Executive Senior Research Associates?' I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts' Associate Research Assistants

Anonymous

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So by way of sharing some of the research I have been part of the last week I offer you all an opportunity to do the "Hokie Pokie" with Lindsey and all at her Birthday Tea last Saturday. Being the 'Senior Research Associate' I must commend Annie, Lindsey's Research Associate, for having planned a most successful "project.!"

~~~^j^~~~

Thanks be to God!

The Road to Providence

Photo by peatadownunder1

My journey with Christ has gone through many transitions. Just as in our humanity we age and mature, so it should be in our spirituality. The last two months of my journey to become an Associate of the Sisters of Providence have focused on prayer.

While we met yesterday, Sister Dorothy and I discussed many things about prayer. For one who has wept because she thought she could not pray or even learn to pray as a young mother and how the way I prayed was certainly unacceptable to God as I grew older, I learned by my study this last month that, Indeed, He has always been there. And my life, as I choose to live, it can be prayer.

Reflecting on my life, I have developed a mental scrapbook. A book I now call Providential Life. I could spend days sharing with you the ways in which the Triune God has affected and shaped my life.

Though I think the story of God's providence in my life is Pulitzer prize material and how I would love to share the tales of His presence in my life, I will not. (I heard the sigh!) I would simply ask each of you to sit quietly in His presence and share once again those times when he was near at hand. Reflect on the times you were most aware of that presence and soon He will be reminding you of all the other times you have forgotten.

The key is to be quiet! This is a tool I have been working on for years. I do think the more I practice the larger my wonderful scrapbook will become. It's great when you can collaborate when preparing a book even though you and He are the only ones to see the pages in your mind. Give it a try!!

~~~~~*~~~~~
Thanks be to God!

The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate

It never fails to amaze me! Wherever I least expect it I am sent a gift I must share with everyone!
This happened to me yesterday when Pat my best friend ever since grade school sent me this!! Please enjoy!

The Wisdom in Hot Chocolate

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Thanks be to God!

Well, I'm back again...

After three days, I have risen from the books and words. It has been a challenging and fruitful experience with tonight being the presentation. I just want to share one special tidbit I found along this journey.

The Christian mysteries are an indivisible
whole. If we become immersed in one, we are led
to all the others. Thus the way from Bethlehem
leads inevitably to Golgotha, from the crib to the
cross. When the blessed virgin brought the child
to the temple, Simeon prophesied that her soul
would be pierced by a sword, that this child was
set for the fall and resurrection of many, for
a sign that would be contradicted. His prophecy
announced the passion, the fight between light
and darkness that already showed itself before
the crib.

~Edith Stein~
+ Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross+

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Thanks be to God!!

Right Living and Right Speaking

Nouwen
Originally uploaded by TheScriptorium

I thought I'd let Henri Nouwen voice his wisdom today.

To be a witness for God is to be a living sign of God's presence in the world. What we live is more important than what we say, because the right way of living always leads to the right way of speaking. When we forgive our neighbors from our hearts, our hearts will speak grateful words, and when we are hopeful and joyful we will speak hopeful and joyful words.

When our words come too soon and we are not yet living what we are saying, we easily give double messages. Giving double messages--one with our words and another with our actions--makes us hypocrites. May our live give us the right words, and may our words lead us to the right lives.

from Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith

That said, I wish you all a hope filled, joyful day!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Thanks be to God!!

Wisdom

I was reading through Pope John Paul II, His Essential Wisdom, Edited by Carol Kelly-Gangi and found this quote:

I am not severe--I am sweet by nature--but I defend the rigidity principle. God is stronger than human weakness and deviations. God will always have the last word.

"God will always have the last word." I thought about how hard it is to be a parent sometimes. It was hard when the kids were young to "defend the rigidity principle." Saying "no" and really sticking to it. Not compromising my resolve was not only distressing but oft times painful. Wanting to give in would have been so much easier. What I had to realize, as much as I wanted to be my child's friend, was I was first and foremost the parent.

Now after all these years, my children still love me, and we are friends. It's just a matter of being sure as a parent, we follow the model of Almighty God, and have the last word.

~~~~^j^~~~~

Thanks be to God in His wisdom,
and
to Pope John Paul II for conveying it!