Twelve Royal Teams

Who have helped "plow the furrow" of my life (to use Silf's metaphor taken from I Kings 19:19)?

My parents
Close friends
Teachers
Pastors
Authors
Key events
The Church
Christ in the Eucharist! :)

How have they been instruments of God?

Mostly through the good example of their lives, and their generous ways of nurturing my spirit through specific growth-producing challenges to specific aspects of myself in need of development.

I am mostly motivated by love: life-giving challenges and mercy, and when I am led, it is because I am willing to follow good example.

No wonder I'm a teacher.

How can I use this perception to help me love others better?

Reference: Silf, Inner Compass, Chapter 3 "Finding Our Past in God"

True Freedom

That's what I really want: to be content in all things, to keep my contentment anchored in Christ, regardless of the circumstances.  That is true freedom.




While I reflect on all the ways and times I have been aware of God leading me into closer union with Him through special experiences or moments of awakening awareness, I am made more clearly mindful that what God wants of me is my complete Trust in Him, and what He wants to give me is complete Life-Giving Contentment.  By "contentment" I don't mean placidity.  "Contentment" means everything tending towards one thing.  That "one thing" for me is my Life in God through Christ.


Along the way, each of these experiences have taught me many things about myself and about God.  But taken altogether I can see that they have one purpose: One-ness w/ my Loving-Creator-Savior-Redeemer-Eternal-Life-Source-Who-Is-Abba!  


Glory be to the Father
And to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning
Is now
And every shall be
World without end.
Amen!


Is now!  How blessed are we who embrace this Now!
Praise You Jesus!
Thank You Lord!

Question about Justice

When someone hurts or harms you, it seems like (at least at some point) one of two things should happen:  either seek justice or offer mercy.  It might be possible to do both in many cases, especially if justice can be done in a fairly timely fashion.

But if much time has passed, and the one harmed has been experiencing healing through God, or anything better than worldly justice, then it might be the only thing left (of benefit to the one injured) is to offer mercy.

The issue for society remains: should there be "justice" (consequences/ restitution) for society at large even if the particular injured doesn't need it?

Is "justice" ever just punishment?  If so, is it really just?