Archive for the 'Advice from God' Category

Nov 23 2008

What (mien) not to wear

About a year ago, I met one of the nastiest women in my life. Within a half hour, I knew she was the epitome of all that I should not be: angry over trifles, greedy, underhanded, and vocally “honest” without charity. At the time, I was thunderstruck by her audacity and annoyed that any attempt to change the topic of her tirade resulted in another, new tirade. She made a tedious task absolutely onerous.

As usual, I thought there was a lesson in the experience.

Thank you, God, I thought, for showing me what I will become if I don’t give up Anger.

And as usual, I missed the lesson.

When I met Mrs. Angry again, I hid my dislike under a civil tone. But I found something to do in another room and, after my volunteer work was done, I didn’t hang around to chat.

However, I met her again last week. I was visiting with a bookstore owner who has been a good friend (and terrible matchmaker). She had to run into the storeroom for a bit. Then Mrs. A came in, complaining about the store hours and the time she wasted coming when the store was closed, etc. The over-the-top complaining triggered my recognition.

She directed her bile my way, since there were no other customers. I wished my friend the shopkeeper a speedy return.

“Ah, poor thing,” I told her. “But you made it this time.”

She was still angry and made a few comments about the shopkeepers inopportune lunch hours.

“Well, you can’t blame her for eating,” I said. “So take a deep breath. It can’t be good for your blood pressure to get upset about it.”

“No, it isn’t,” she said. But she wasn’t done. She remained combative, telling the shopowner to contact that publisher of an out-of-print book. She dismissed a pocket-sized Scripture reader that I recommended. I was taken aback when she said, “This (indicating the book she was purchasing) was written by a Christian, not a Catholic.”

“I was under the impression that Catholics were Christian,” I said.

She was speechless - for less than two seconds, to be sure, but that’s a long time in the lifecycle of a sharp-tongued woman. Then she informed me not only that Catholics were indeed Christians but, through a subtle change in tone, that I was a dunderhead to be more pitied than scorned. It was in that moment I realized that Mrs. A herself was Catholic and considered herself as uptight upright a woman as any.

I found myself asking for Mrs. A’s opinions and commisserating with her about whatever she was complaining about. My friend the shopkeeper was better than I was, as gentle and soft-spoken as ever. By the time of her departure, Mrs. A had smiled a few times and even replied to my “Enjoy your weekend!” in kind.

So what was God’s lesson for me? Only days later, it jumped up from the page I was reading:

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? -Matthew 5:46

It’s natural to avoid disagreeable people. However, I’ve gotten in the habit of avoiding people with whom I disagree philosophically or politically. And when one of my friends made rude criticism of my fellow Christians, I simply decided to delete her e-mails that contain such rubbish and not respond. But lately I’d considered breaking off my relationships with a couple friends because it’s hard to be charitable when tensions arise.

So now, it seems, I have to try again.

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Oct 24 2008

On Following the Holy Spirit’s Marching Orders

…You lead me in directions I would not have chosen for myself. Give me the wisdom to discern Your Will and the courage to follow it. - from a prayer by Fr. John Catoir, Joyfully Living the Gospel Day by Day

I’m not living up to my potential and neither are most of you.

Most of us have moments of inspiration. We watch a program about a quadrapalegic woman who learned to paint with a brush in her mouth, or we read an article about a low-income couple who managed to make a home for orphans. We feel uplifted by their courage and inspired by their example. 

Then we channel-surf for another hour instead of starting that To Do List we wrote during Lent. Or we continue that novel that’s not really very good - and its subtext might even be bad - because it sure beats spending a couple of hours working on the novels that have been bouncing around our heads for the last decade.

We feel moved, but we don’t move.

Continue Reading »

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Oct 05 2008

Balconi’s Rainbow: the nonmusical :)

Published by jean under Advice from God

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Phillipians 4:6

 

I took this photo just a little way from my home. The rain had started to let up to the south, on Lake St. Clair, but clouds still darkened the north. The rainbow appeared suddenly over St. Johns Marsh.  When I pulled over, I realized that it perfectly framed the sign.

Sometimes God gives me a gift that I don’t recognize fully when I receive it.

Ever since I was a kid, I have felt that decisions have tremendous consequences and that (inevitably, it seemed) past careless decisions lead inexoribly to current problems. As a result, I tend to procrastinate over choices and second-guess myself afterwards. 

Even when I prayed over a decision, I saw it as closing a door on an opportunity - with no going back. What if I was wrong in my choice and didn’t realize it until later on? I especially panicked when circumstances forced a choice. For example, I chose a corporate job over journalism when it became clear I couldn’t support myself on unpaid internships, $-per-inch freelancing, or the low starting salaries of weeklies. I kicked myself for years at the waste of my education, talent, etc.

I’ve never liked that saying “When a door closes, God opens a window opens.”  It made God sound cruel. After all, with my luck I’d end up hitting a sidewalk face-first. “When one door closes, another door opens” is a little better - unless you’re trying to get out the closed door and the axe-murdering clown is coming in the other… but I digress.

This photo, which I’ve posted over my desk, reminds me that God is generous. He never gives just one opportunity or one good choice, whether it’s an opportunity to repent or a choice to relocate.  I can trust Him to lead me to a good end in everything.

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Sep 01 2008

A Great Sermon About Choosing Life

Published by jean under Advice from God

Linked is Sunday’s homily from Fr. John De Celles, an associate pastor at Old St. Mary’s Church, Alexandria, VA. He’s talking about Pelosi, but he’s also talking to the rest of us.

Now, some will want to say that these bishops—and I— are crossing the line from Religion into to politics. But it was the Speaker of the House who started this. The bishops, and I, are not crossing into politics; she, and other pro-abortion Catholic politicians, regularly cross over into teaching theology and doctrine, And it’s our job to try clean up their mess.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NTY1MzAwOTc5MmViMzUyYzM 5YmY3OWFkYzdkMzY0YzM=

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Jul 12 2008

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas?!?!

Published by jean under Advice from God, Surveys and Memes

Organized Home, the website of organizer Cynthia Townley Ewer,  has many helpful checklists. One of her most popular features is the Christmas Countdown. It helps families finish holiday chores earlier so they can enjoy the actual event. 

She’s running a ”Christmas in July” poll, asking when people begin to prepare for Christmas.

http://organizedchristmas.com/poll-when-do-you-prepare-for-c hristmas

I thought I’d be among the earlybirds since I start getting ready after Halloween. I take out my Advent books and dig out the Advent wreath.

But more than half of the respondents start earlier, including 19% in the summer!

At first I thought, That’s crazy. Why start preparing so many months ahead?  I wondered if the respondents were thinking about Christ or just the hoopla and packaging that’s surrounding the holy day.

 Then, of course, I got one of those Holy Ghost smacks in the head. The thought came to me: How many months ahead should one be preparing for the Second Coming of Christ? 

I spend most days caught up in daily chores. There are a myriad of trivial activities and enthusiasms to distract me from my mortality.  How much do I prepare?

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Feb 13 2008

Interesting dream…

Published by jean under Advice from God

I had a very odd and enlightening dream two nights ago.  The only question is whether it’s a warning or a reminder. :)

I was in the parking lot of the church in my hometown. It was nearly full, as if for a holy day. The sun was shining and it was warm, so it might have been Easter. I was wearing a flowered dress and white shoes, so maybe it was May Crowning.

There were pennies and a nickel on the pavement and I squatted carefully (because I was wearing a skirt) to pick it up.

 When I picked up the change, I spotted some more underneath a truck.  I leaned forward and picked it up. Then I stood and saw quarters glittering on the pavement a few steps away.  Other people looked to see what I was doing, but they headed into church.

Long story short: I was still out in the parking lot when everyone began to sing. So I was missing Mass, but I was still out there picking up change - and I felt guilty but I couldn’t or didn’t stop. (It was not clear to me whether I was in charge or was compelled.) 

 I awoke somewhat disturbed.

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Feb 01 2008

In the bleak midwinter…

Published by jean under Advice from God, Bible quotes

winter.jpg

Do not give in to sadness, torment not yourself with brooding. Gladness of heart is the very life of man, cheerfulness prolongs his days.

Sirach 30:21-22.

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