LISTEN...

The ability to LISTEN,  to hear what is said by others and by our own inner voice is almost an

ART form, especially in today's world where we can be bombarded by noise and news of all sorts.

When we are focused on who we are and what we want to do then we are able and willing to give our full attention to others and listen to what is said to us.

We become part of the community and family we live in and are able to open our hearts to love.

Most important of course, is the ability to listen to the Gentle Whisper within.

LISTEN to the Voice of God.

Comfort seeking...

We all seek to be comforted in one way or another and this is a good thing.

A person who is happy and feels comforted is able and more likely willing to share their happiness with others.

Perhaps the challenge lies in the choices we make in relation to comfort.

For example, food plays a big part in the world of comfort.  

Food is good, yet an inordinate love for food can lead to obesity and the suffering that comes with it. The same can be said for pleasures of all kinds. 

Our true nature is geared towards love and when we open our hearts and love others then we experience the comfort that comes with loving.

The spiritual-minded person knows the value of being loved by God and we find happiness in sharing His love in our lives, how we live and work and play.

Be comforted by Love.

Meeting Friends...

It's a wonderful thing to meet up with friends and share with them, who we are and who they are.

Friendship is a give and take relationship where we explore and invite others to be part of our lives.

Likewise, they invite us into their inner circle of life, sharing joys and sorrows.

In a way, this is how we develop and grow as a person.

The part of us that can be hidden from ourselves is revealed when we are in the company of good and trusted friends.  No judgement, just interest.

I like to believe that our relationship with God is of a similar vein.

Through the lives of the saints and saintly persons we learn to acknowledge how much God loves us.

This love which can be hidden, comes to the surface when we are open and honest with ourselves.

We see who we are and we begin to see who our Loving Father is, compassionate and forgiving.

Then we are free to have a loving relationship with God.

The LIGHT of the world...

Living in the Garden of Ireland, Wicklow, has many advantages.
Just a short walk from my home in Wicklow town brings me to Travel-a-Hawk beach, an almost hidden place at the foot of the Black Castle ruins.
This has become one of my favourite places, especially when the sun is shining and the sea is alive with frothy,white waves crashing upon the pebble beach.
A place of art and poetry, meshed into the Irish landscape.  Most times, it's also a sheltered place where one can compose creative words / take photos that capture the power of the sea and the beauty of our Irish shores.
Perhaps more so than the visual is the atmosphere of solitude against the crash and noise of the sea, a place of deep thinking and  meditation.
In a way, one can meet the Power of God when close to the power of the sea and be lost in quiet tranquillity of mind, body and spirit.

PASSION OF CHRIST

This afternoon I attended the First Friday celebrations in our Church in Wicklow.

The Readings covered the whole Passion and Death of Christ, followed by the solemn presentation of the Cross and Holy Communion.

Our Church, St. Patrick's is quite a big church and it was packed with people.  Quite impressive to see so many people of all ages,  willing to be there and in a way to thank God for the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

Perhaps, some of the tragedies that have happened recently in this troubled world of ours helped to move people towards their belief in the Presence of God and give an awareness of how we are supported by Grace each day of our lives. 

I was conscious of this and glad to be able to take part in this awareness of God's Presence.

As people we are so free, free to love or to hate.  Maybe even worse, free to be indifferent to the needs of  others.

God, being Love, will never force us against our free will.

Therefore, it takes a powerful act, such as the Passion of Christ to move us towards Love.

Peace of Mind

To be at peace with ourselves is such a wonderful thing...  no anxiety or worry, just a willingness to face the challenges of life with grace and positivity.

This sounds almost beyond our human capacity.  We may well have become accustomed to fretting and worrying about life in general, yet this is not how we are meant to be.

We are above all a spiritual being with a human body.  

Our main objective is to allow the spirit to rule.

Can we do so?  Well, this is a challenge and it becomes easier when we are willing and able to develop ourselves spiritually.

For the Christian mind, we believe we are created to love and honour God.

How we do this is by allowing the best in us to guide us.  Allow the Light in and keep far away from all that is Dark.

Our Peace of Mind is like a compass that guides us and protects us from straying away from our true selves.

When we protect ourselves and live in the Light, then no darkness can cloud our judgement or cause us to lose sight of all that is good and wonderful.

We are created to Love.  Our Peace of Mind will guide us towards all that is loveable.

PROGRESS

It's encouraging to believe that we are making progress.  

Changes are happening and we are part of the new steps being taken.

They may be only baby steps and yet this is how we make progress, one step at a time.

Perhaps what might encourage us at times is to observe children, especially a baby learning to walk for the first time...

The innocence of the child protects it from feeling unable to face the challenge in question.

A child simply attempts to walk, then relies on the Parent to help out.

It might even try to run along and without the protection of the Parent, it would surely fall.

At times, we are like a child who is learning something for the first time, yet if we truly believe that our loving Parent is close at hand, then we have nothing to fear.

God will always be at our side, willing to give a helping Hand if we allow Him to be part of our lives.

This is the essence of wisdom, to make progress knowing that God is with us.