Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Nobody can give what he does not have.
Be convinced of this: your apostolate consists in spreading goodness, light, enthusiasm, generosity, a spirit of sacrifice, constancy in work, deep study, complete self surrender, being up to date, cheerful and complete obedience to the Church, and perfect charity.
Nobody can give what he does not have.
- St Jose Marie Escriva
Noon time and I reach for this small book that I keep close to me for inspiration- The Furrow. After a week of somewhat emotional high and low - questioning all purpose, intention and direction, these words come to me like a gentle reminder. Perhaps I had to go through that questioning of confidence in order to appreciate the assurance i received just now.
This was what I needed reminding of- my mold, my purpose here in this world need not be after any particular impression or design, aimed to closely resemble that which I think my life ought to be or again, that struggle for what the world considers straight out of the textbook- successful.
What it needs to be is constant. To be in a constant state of apostolate.
An apostolate for spreading goodness because we were born for that reason. It is our innate task. We were born with that intent and nature.
For light, becoming if not being that light and bringing that light to others. God knows how many times weve switched them off for those who needed even a glimmer.
For enthusiasm and radiating the same so much so it encourages and moves others to good. I do associate with the joy that emanates from service.
For generosity, making us channels and instruments for imparting the blessings we receive for the good of many more. Last Sunday at homily, the priest said that we are certain that blessings come from God when we are able to generously impart and part with it. He said be wary when what we have gained is something that is difficult to let go of and share and that we should consider the sources. That is because, God always gives/blesses us with the intent- that as custodians of goodness, we are enabled to be dispensers of mercy. When we are un-enabled, we must consider why.
For that spirit of sacrifice we shy from. Because everything about sacrifice is associate with suffering. And everything about suffering is scary. As we struggle with this continually, let us pray and draw grace from the truths that our life came from the greatest of sacrifices.
For that constancy in work. To avoid idleness and stagnancy. Perhaps to work on constancy in everything except where change is needed to improve and evolve as better human beings.
For deep study and continuous learning which I pray eventually makes us wiser than intelligent.
For complete self surrender when all world shouts for is control.
For being up to date- and not being left behind in living out the life intended for us.
For cheerful and complete obedience to the Church- for from obedience stems order and from order, peace.
And finally, for perfect charity- for where we have love, there stems mercy.
Apostolate, after all need not be an association with one virtue, one good, one mission, one charity, one focus, one project. It comes with embracing our unconditional lifelong purpose which were born into. It can all be all these wonderful things balled into one person- you. We are born an apostolate for goodness and everything else that follows.
How true- that we cannot give what we do not have. Again, I am reminded that the blessings we receive do not begin and end with us.
It is a grace granted to enable us to impart it to others. Let us always pray for discernment, inspiration and clarity of mind so that this very apostolate that we were born for can fulfilled beautifully. Lets not let the day pass without our apostolic work. Every contribution counts.
Perhpas, we already have what we need today. What we will need tomorrow will be provided for. We just need to pray harder for the grace to see it and the conviction to live it.
God bless us all with protection, provision and guidance.
--
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you don't reach it, at least you'll be among the stars."
Nobody can give what he does not have.
- St Jose Marie Escriva
Noon time and I reach for this small book that I keep close to me for inspiration- The Furrow. After a week of somewhat emotional high and low - questioning all purpose, intention and direction, these words come to me like a gentle reminder. Perhaps I had to go through that questioning of confidence in order to appreciate the assurance i received just now.
This was what I needed reminding of- my mold, my purpose here in this world need not be after any particular impression or design, aimed to closely resemble that which I think my life ought to be or again, that struggle for what the world considers straight out of the textbook- successful.
What it needs to be is constant. To be in a constant state of apostolate.
An apostolate for spreading goodness because we were born for that reason. It is our innate task. We were born with that intent and nature.
For light, becoming if not being that light and bringing that light to others. God knows how many times weve switched them off for those who needed even a glimmer.
For enthusiasm and radiating the same so much so it encourages and moves others to good. I do associate with the joy that emanates from service.
For generosity, making us channels and instruments for imparting the blessings we receive for the good of many more. Last Sunday at homily, the priest said that we are certain that blessings come from God when we are able to generously impart and part with it. He said be wary when what we have gained is something that is difficult to let go of and share and that we should consider the sources. That is because, God always gives/blesses us with the intent- that as custodians of goodness, we are enabled to be dispensers of mercy. When we are un-enabled, we must consider why.
For that spirit of sacrifice we shy from. Because everything about sacrifice is associate with suffering. And everything about suffering is scary. As we struggle with this continually, let us pray and draw grace from the truths that our life came from the greatest of sacrifices.
For that constancy in work. To avoid idleness and stagnancy. Perhaps to work on constancy in everything except where change is needed to improve and evolve as better human beings.
For deep study and continuous learning which I pray eventually makes us wiser than intelligent.
For complete self surrender when all world shouts for is control.
For being up to date- and not being left behind in living out the life intended for us.
For cheerful and complete obedience to the Church- for from obedience stems order and from order, peace.
And finally, for perfect charity- for where we have love, there stems mercy.
Apostolate, after all need not be an association with one virtue, one good, one mission, one charity, one focus, one project. It comes with embracing our unconditional lifelong purpose which were born into. It can all be all these wonderful things balled into one person- you. We are born an apostolate for goodness and everything else that follows.
How true- that we cannot give what we do not have. Again, I am reminded that the blessings we receive do not begin and end with us.
It is a grace granted to enable us to impart it to others. Let us always pray for discernment, inspiration and clarity of mind so that this very apostolate that we were born for can fulfilled beautifully. Lets not let the day pass without our apostolic work. Every contribution counts.
Perhpas, we already have what we need today. What we will need tomorrow will be provided for. We just need to pray harder for the grace to see it and the conviction to live it.
God bless us all with protection, provision and guidance.
--
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you don't reach it, at least you'll be among the stars."
Nobody can give what he does not have.
Be convinced of this: your apostolate consists in spreading goodness, light, enthusiasm, generosity, a spirit of sacrifice, constancy in work, deep study, complete self surrender, being up to date, cheerful and complete obedience to the Church, and perfect charity.
Nobody can give what he does not have.
- St Jose Marie Escriva
Noon time and I reach for this small book that I keep close to me for inspiration- The Furrow. After a week of somewhat emotional high and low - questioning all purpose, intention and direction, these words come to me like a gentle reminder. Perhaps I had to go through that questioning of confidence in order to appreciate the assurance i received just now.
This was what I needed reminding of- my mold, my purpose here in this world need not be after any particular impression or design, aimed to closely resemble that which I think my life ought to be or again, that struggle for what the world considers straight out of the textbook- successful.
What it needs to be is constant. To be in a constant state of apostolate.
An apostolate for spreading goodness because we were born for that reason. It is our innate task. We were born with that intent and nature.
For light, becoming if not being that light and bringing that light to others. God knows how many times weve switched them off for those who needed even a glimmer.
For enthusiasm and radiating the same so much so it encourages and moves others to good. I do associate with the joy that emanates from service.
For generosity, making us channels and instruments for imparting the blessings we receive for the good of many more. Last Sunday at homily, the priest said that we are certain that blessings come from God when we are able to generously impart and part with it. He said be wary when what we have gained is something that is difficult to let go of and share and that we should consider the sources. That is because, God always gives/blesses us with the intent- that as custodians of goodness, we are enabled to be dispensers of mercy. When we are un-enabled, we must consider why.
For that spirit of sacrifice we shy from. Because everything about sacrifice is associate with suffering. And everything about suffering is scary. As we struggle with this continually, let us pray and draw grace from the truths that our life came from the greatest of sacrifices.
For that constancy in work. To avoid idleness and stagnancy. Perhaps to work on constancy in everything except where change is needed to improve and evolve as better human beings.
For deep study and continuous learning which I pray eventually makes us wiser than intelligent.
For complete self surrender when all world shouts for is control.
For being up to date- and not being left behind in living out the life intended for us.
For cheerful and complete obedience to the Church- for from obedience stems order and from order, peace.
And finally, for perfect charity- for where we have love, there stems mercy.
Apostolate, after all need not be an association with one virtue, one good, one mission, one charity, one focus, one project. It comes with embracing our unconditional lifelong purpose which were born into. It can all be all these wonderful things balled into one person- you. We are born an apostolate for goodness and everything else that follows.
How true- that we cannot give what we do not have. Again, I am reminded that the blessings we receive do not begin and end with us.
It is a grace granted to enable us to impart it to others. Let us always pray for discernment, inspiration and clarity of mind so that this very apostolate that we were born for can fulfilled beautifully. Lets not let the day pass without our apostolic work. Every contribution counts.
Perhpas, we already have what we need today. What we will need tomorrow will be provided for. We just need to pray harder for the grace to see it and the conviction to live it.
God bless us all with protection, provision and guidance.
--
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you don't reach it, at least you'll be among the stars."
Nobody can give what he does not have.
- St Jose Marie Escriva
Noon time and I reach for this small book that I keep close to me for inspiration- The Furrow. After a week of somewhat emotional high and low - questioning all purpose, intention and direction, these words come to me like a gentle reminder. Perhaps I had to go through that questioning of confidence in order to appreciate the assurance i received just now.
This was what I needed reminding of- my mold, my purpose here in this world need not be after any particular impression or design, aimed to closely resemble that which I think my life ought to be or again, that struggle for what the world considers straight out of the textbook- successful.
What it needs to be is constant. To be in a constant state of apostolate.
An apostolate for spreading goodness because we were born for that reason. It is our innate task. We were born with that intent and nature.
For light, becoming if not being that light and bringing that light to others. God knows how many times weve switched them off for those who needed even a glimmer.
For enthusiasm and radiating the same so much so it encourages and moves others to good. I do associate with the joy that emanates from service.
For generosity, making us channels and instruments for imparting the blessings we receive for the good of many more. Last Sunday at homily, the priest said that we are certain that blessings come from God when we are able to generously impart and part with it. He said be wary when what we have gained is something that is difficult to let go of and share and that we should consider the sources. That is because, God always gives/blesses us with the intent- that as custodians of goodness, we are enabled to be dispensers of mercy. When we are un-enabled, we must consider why.
For that spirit of sacrifice we shy from. Because everything about sacrifice is associate with suffering. And everything about suffering is scary. As we struggle with this continually, let us pray and draw grace from the truths that our life came from the greatest of sacrifices.
For that constancy in work. To avoid idleness and stagnancy. Perhaps to work on constancy in everything except where change is needed to improve and evolve as better human beings.
For deep study and continuous learning which I pray eventually makes us wiser than intelligent.
For complete self surrender when all world shouts for is control.
For being up to date- and not being left behind in living out the life intended for us.
For cheerful and complete obedience to the Church- for from obedience stems order and from order, peace.
And finally, for perfect charity- for where we have love, there stems mercy.
Apostolate, after all need not be an association with one virtue, one good, one mission, one charity, one focus, one project. It comes with embracing our unconditional lifelong purpose which were born into. It can all be all these wonderful things balled into one person- you. We are born an apostolate for goodness and everything else that follows.
How true- that we cannot give what we do not have. Again, I am reminded that the blessings we receive do not begin and end with us.
It is a grace granted to enable us to impart it to others. Let us always pray for discernment, inspiration and clarity of mind so that this very apostolate that we were born for can fulfilled beautifully. Lets not let the day pass without our apostolic work. Every contribution counts.
Perhpas, we already have what we need today. What we will need tomorrow will be provided for. We just need to pray harder for the grace to see it and the conviction to live it.
God bless us all with protection, provision and guidance.
--
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you don't reach it, at least you'll be among the stars."
Friday, September 9, 2011
Finding out you're a little bit brave after all....
"Maybe before you can be fearless, you must be humble. Maybe before you can be courageous, you must surrender. Maybe before you can have pride, you must swallow it. The ego obscures reality just as the clouds do the sun. Maybe that's why intelligent people seem more prone to phobias. It's not because they're smarter, it's because they feel more self-important. Conceit is what worry and fear feed on." — Joe Kita (Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All)
Browsing through my facebook, I saw this posted as the status message of my friend Tweet Sering. It caught my attention. The truth and the honesty of the writer did.
Our self obsessive culture this day and age has caused us so much anxiety for things yet to happen and so much regret and remiss for things passed. We are made to thrive in the fear of the unknown, the fear of people's opinion, failing the world's standards and so on. Yet is it really worth losing ourselves and our identities to what the world dictates as as the so called modern day standard. We can win over these imposed challenges, yes. But it takes looking in the mirror and finding out that we have what it takes.
I suppose - finding out that we're a little brave after all is not a host of just "maybes" but more of acknowledging the very basic very organic truths about ourselves.
That indeed, to be fearless one has to be humble. As Mother Teresa admonishes us- it is good to be humble. For when you are humble, you recognize your nothingness. When you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace can hurt you. Nothing can hurt you.
One who doesn't know how to be "little" as should be- cannot measure his courage against fear. His ego and his pride will overshadow the enemy and he will never know when the enemy is on approach. He will believe himself to be thoroughly prepared yet remain truly - unprepared and sightless.
One who doesn't know how to surrender, would also not know how to conquer one's self. Everything, every skill or virtue- the mastery of such begins with self. We are all works in progress. And unless we know our weakness and train in the mastering it, allow guidance to take place, we will be unable to advance and win over our battles.
That indeed, in the very acts self denial and humbleness, great or small, do we actually really receive the gifts of life. We receive more in giving, in life giving ways.
Perhaps the truest lesson that I picked up on is that we do not have to pretend to be "big in life" to be actually enriched by our life and the people we encounter. The gifts and graces are abundant and available to us. We have what it takes to figure ourselves out of such an embattled culture. We have what it takes to survive, and where we fall short, God will supply us with the graces we need to get by.
It starts with such an encouragement, a belief and a decision henceforth that in fact, we are a little bit brave after all. If you acknowledge your true self, trust that you are.
Finding out you're a little bit brave after all....
"Maybe
before you can be fearless, you must be humble. Maybe before you can be
courageous, you must surrender. Maybe before you can have pride, you must
swallow it. The ego obscures reality just as the clouds do the sun. Maybe
that's why intelligent people seem more prone to phobias. It's not because
they're smarter, it's because they feel more self-important. Conceit is what
worry and fear feed on." — Joe Kita (Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All)
Browsing through my facebook, I saw this posted as the status message of my friend Tweet Sering. It caught my attention. The truth and the honesty of the writer did.
Our self obsessive culture this day and age has caused us so much anxiety for things yet to happen and so much regret and remiss for things passed. We are made to thrive in the fear of the unknown, the fear of people's opinion, failing the world's standards and so on. Yet is it really worth losing ourselves and our identities to what the world dictates as as the so called modern day standard. We can win over these imposed challenges, yes. But it takes looking in the mirror and finding out that we have what it takes.
I suppose - finding out that we're a little brave after all is not a host of just "maybes" but more of acknowledging the very basic very organic truths about ourselves.
That indeed, to be fearless one has to be humble. As Mother Teresa admonishes us- it is good to be humble. For when you are humble, you recognize your nothingness. When you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace can hurt you. Nothing can hurt you.
One who doesn't know how to be "little" as should be- cannot measure his courage against fear. His ego and his pride will overshadow the enemy and he will never know when the enemy is on approach. He will believe himself to be thoroughly prepared yet remain truly - unprepared and sightless.
One who doesn't know how to surrender, would also not know how to conquer one's self. Everything, every skill or virtue- the mastery of such begins with self. We are all works in progress. And unless we know our weakness and train in the mastering it, allow guidance to take place, we will be unable to advance and win over our battles.
That indeed, in the very acts self denial and humbleness, great or small, do we actually really receive the gifts of life. We receive more in giving, in life giving ways.
Perhaps the truest lesson that I picked up on is that we do not have to pretend to be "big in life" to be actually enriched by our life and the people we encounter. The gifts and graces are abundant and available to us. We have what it takes to figure ourselves out of such an embattled culture. We have what it takes to survive, and where we fall short, God will supply us with the graces we need to get by.
It starts with such an encouragement, a belief and a decision henceforth that in fact, we are a little bit brave after all. If you acknowledge your true self, trust that you are.
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