tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.comments2016-03-15T08:49:00.670-07:00The Tender Compassion of our GodAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05494675813521913350noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-79004712719866256102016-03-15T08:49:00.670-07:002016-03-15T08:49:00.670-07:00Thank You. You use breathing to point out so much ...Thank You. You use breathing to point out so much of our being that needs tending to this Lent (and always) as we try to take a non-violent approach to everything. Thank you and Amen.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10814650192558911671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-91849324500241364822016-02-14T15:33:22.439-08:002016-02-14T15:33:22.439-08:00Thanks Br. James. It is uplifting to be invited by...Thanks Br. James. It is uplifting to be invited by you to continually point our journey into a deeper relationship with God ... everywhere. I love Teresa of Avila's quotes from the Interior Castle which I think are spot on your article, and I think describes a part of Jesus' journey as he models for us what must be done, as she reflects on the significance of self-knowledge in spiritual growth, “It is very important to be prepared and to have understood ourselves beforehand”. Self-knowledge, often gained through life’s trials, requires honesty with self which is truth, as she says, “Test us, Lord – for You know the truth – so that we may know ourselves”. As we know from the study of Psychology, this can be easier said than done. Teresa says, “Terrible trials are suffered because we don’t understand ourselves, and that which isn’t bad at all but good we think is a serious fault. For the most part, all the trials and disturbances come from our not understanding ourselves”. Acceptance of reality (we have demons), pursuit of truth (find our demons), and growth (healing of our demons) is 1 way to grow with and deeper within God, and certainly God is helping us in ways we can't imagine which for me is evidenced during those times I just shake my head in amazement and say "Thanks". Thank you for a great theme to contemplate this Lent and foster our repentance and turning toward God. As I contemplate this, it seems those demons are "sore" because as we get close to them or touch them, quite a reaction can happen. I know you're familiar with the "tenacious" demon imagery the Desert Mothers and Fathers paint. And when I combine this with the idea that, somehow, all is rooted in God, I face a challenge - cast demons out as we hear in some parables, or live in the Divine image and show compassion and love towards the demons, contemplating them with non-judgment, helping them to heal and helping us become whole ... or deal with them another way. Looking forward to your future blog entries this Lent.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10814650192558911671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-780081898032115052016-02-14T11:48:33.728-08:002016-02-14T11:48:33.728-08:00Thank you, Jim. I have long believed that Jesus w...Thank you, Jim. I have long believed that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are, but I had not made the leap to him having his own demons. It is obvious to me, now, and I am heartened as I wrestle my own. It can be easy to forget that EVERYONE has them--especially when they fall into the category of my "character defects," in 12 step language. "Welcome to the human race," I often say to myself when it feels like the defects are piling up. Nice to know I have the fully human, fully divine company of Jesus...and yours. Thanks for writing this blog and inviting us to join your Lenten wilderness sojourn,Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05785259878281926971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-62387816057789266492016-02-11T07:43:34.590-08:002016-02-11T07:43:34.590-08:00Hi! I'm not even a Christian and found this t...Hi! I'm not even a Christian and found this to be inspiring. Thank you!Christopher Vigliottihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09047823856410676656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-20780302155348114042016-02-11T03:06:09.484-08:002016-02-11T03:06:09.484-08:00Blessings to you Paige. May you experience a holy ...Blessings to you Paige. May you experience a holy Lent.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05494675813521913350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-75207060407764999312016-02-10T17:26:38.693-08:002016-02-10T17:26:38.693-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02726734536596228056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-18431669281446875532016-02-10T17:26:27.385-08:002016-02-10T17:26:27.385-08:00Thanks for this post, Jim. I am planning to fast f...Thanks for this post, Jim. I am planning to fast from judgmental, negative talk about others this lent...focusing on silence or words of blessing instead. It was encouraging to me to read your words here. Peace, PaigeAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02726734536596228056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-1444552238144955542015-04-06T10:34:27.019-07:002015-04-06T10:34:27.019-07:00This is a highly excellent post, Brother James.This is a highly excellent post, Brother James.Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09423054627455139867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-25273469159003073222015-01-02T08:11:34.506-08:002015-01-02T08:11:34.506-08:00I initially wrote a way too long rambling comment,...I initially wrote a way too long rambling comment, so instead I turned it into my own rambling blog post: http://thegreatramble.wordpress.com/2015/01/02/on-clouds-and-darkness/ But, basically, thank you for this wonderful blog post. AJ Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16552660103593833723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-46707096691276196252015-01-02T08:11:00.945-08:002015-01-02T08:11:00.945-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.AJ Nolanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16552660103593833723noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-17469350416197580332015-01-01T17:21:54.159-08:002015-01-01T17:21:54.159-08:00Greetings Brother,
Thank you for this mediation. I...Greetings Brother,<br />Thank you for this mediation. I will look for more. In the meantime, prayers and peace from Woodstock, NY.A-h/pathwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08718310992937234533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-41945136453865934872014-04-20T18:37:24.041-07:002014-04-20T18:37:24.041-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01302637122718902404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-64722658384979060002014-03-31T08:21:08.086-07:002014-03-31T08:21:08.086-07:00Thank you once again. Amen!
This was my response t...Thank you once again. Amen!<br />This was my response to the Newtown shootings:<br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3g7JNwLcv4<br /><br />Peace - A-hA-h/pathwalkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08718310992937234533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-71304256125599766532013-12-02T14:17:09.776-08:002013-12-02T14:17:09.776-08:00I've posted a couple of comments and they keep...I've posted a couple of comments and they keep disappearing so will try once more. Great Post. Yesterday I had an experience of taking food to a man I know who had asked for some. He had said he was a lousy cook and would love some home made food. But I saw that his apartment was cold and he had very little food there. I was a bit ashamed that I hadn't responded more quickly. He lives on an edge, like so many people. Sometimes we have to just make a personal response.becky nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16275457418436757436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-77774516267875742492013-11-22T09:22:47.658-08:002013-11-22T09:22:47.658-08:00Thanks for photo and encouragement to keep looking...Thanks for photo and encouragement to keep looking at them and at ourselves.<br /><br />pat cashmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14227633484871967460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-13754536747567473782013-10-28T13:55:49.646-07:002013-10-28T13:55:49.646-07:00In a lot of icons there are these saints with what...In a lot of icons there are these saints with what I thought were little pointed red hats, but I think they're meant to be seen as flames, too. It's a good explanation, anyway.becky nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16275457418436757436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-84428073843156303502013-10-26T16:03:12.169-07:002013-10-26T16:03:12.169-07:00Who calls us to give voice to those who are not he...Who calls us to give voice to those who are not heard<br />for God's mercy endures for ever.Jeniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08215925881551269814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-80702109725056255512013-10-26T10:24:56.763-07:002013-10-26T10:24:56.763-07:00Shall we chant this tonight? Thank you.Shall we chant this tonight? Thank you.Br. Bernard Delcourthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04158119636770250519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7182201563368804476.post-91243273301939798082013-10-23T18:11:25.866-07:002013-10-23T18:11:25.866-07:00Great. Looking forward to more.Great. Looking forward to more.HIldegard N. Plevahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15066438750309820009noreply@blogger.com