WISDOM AND DIVINE GUIDANCE

 

Mariam said to the Rabbi, "Wisdom is . . ."

Rabbi Jesus answered, "Finding the fine line of the balance between over confidence and over cautiousness."

It is possible to struggle with over-confidence which may lead to brash and uninformed decisions, with resultant difficulties and poor outcome. 

Another possibility is to wrestle with over-cautiousness which leads to "over-analysis paralysis", and, due to anxiety or fear, no action is taken where action is sorely needed. Again, with resultant difficulties and suboptimal result.

The path to wisdom leads each person to become familiar with personal inner struggles, and to overcome them with prudence during decision-making, for the greater good of the community. 

Wisdom also means that each individual learns to take informed decisions with tact, delicacy, due confidentiality and understanding of the immense impact decisions may have on the lives of oneself and others. 

Thus, wisdom means the undertaking of decisions timeously and prudently when needed, with no recourse to a faulty personal agenda which may derail an action required to be taken in pursuit of the common good of society.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Guidance in a rustic room" 

TROUBLING THE WATERS

 

Mariam was the unwilling witness of a huge row, because of an individual who never wished to fit in, preferring always to rebel and create discomfort for others. Mariam could not understand why this acquaintance felt the need to trouble the waters for those around her. Mariam wondered what the cause was.

Mariam asked the Rabbi, "What is the emotion?"

Rabbi Jesus answered, "The emotion is commotion."

If one is not a peace with oneself, one cannot give peace to others. Turn to Christ, as He is the Peace the world cannot give.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Heavenly Peace amidst shattered pottery"

PERSONAL FAULTLINES

 

Mariam said to the Rabbi, "God allows us time on earth in earthly school, to make our mistakes and learn from our experiences, to prepare us to be citizens of heaven. We are given the opportunity ..."

Rabbi Jesus replied, "To find out all your faultlines."

Each of us has a different set of moral, emotional, physical, affective and spiritual challenges within our being. God gives us time to deal with them, and to be healed where healing is needed. We have the aid of confession and the sacraments with this task.

If we decline to work with our inner journey to holiness during our time on earth, we will then need to work with them in Purgatory.

So why not work with them now?

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Peaceful garden by the sea"

BRAVE KNIGHT

 

Mariam told the Rabbi, "Many dream of a brave knight who will come to save them in their lives."

Rabbi Jesus answered her, "You are your brave knight."

Each of us has hidden depths of inner strength to tap from, and limitless strength available through prayer to God. Be of good courage. Tap your inner strength. Be a valiant spiritual knight. Your battle is not with others in this world, but with yourself. To spiritually contest, to become the best you can be.

Remember, that God will never let you down. 

What may seem a failure today, may prove a victory in ten years time. 

What may seem a denial of a dream today, may be the best thing that ever happened to you, because the denial left you free to follow God's true Will. 

What may seem to be your feminine weakness, or male ambivalence today, if faced and inner strength tapped, may be the very development you need to become the great saint God intends you to be.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Knights beneath sacred banners"

WRONGS OF THE WORLD

 

                                                                                        Freepik

Mariam and Rabbi Jesus discussed current events. Mariam felt deeply sad about all the wrongs in the world, which she -  a tiny human - could not put right. 

After a while Mariam said reflectively, "I cannot change the whole world, Lord; but I can change me."

Rabbi Jesus replied: "If each one of you changes for the better, your influence will become better; and the trickle-on effect on family, community, society and world will be better for your having passed through the earthly vale."

We cannot change the whole world ourselves, we are but a drop in the ocean of humanity. However, if all our drops of humanity serve only good, the ocean of the world will soon change for the better.

LOVE AND RELATIONSHIP

 

Mariam had a true love. Rabbi Jesus asked her, "What did he teach you?"

Mariam answered, "To love deeply, forgive gently, walk together humbly before our God."

No relationship is pain-free. We are all like uncut diamonds, with sharp edges that abrade. Love and relationship brings us into close proximity with another, who is also walking the path from fallen being to saintliness. 

Naturally, there will be disharmony, dissent and misunderstanding at times. Yet, this is all in God's plan. Love for one another necessitates growth, increasing gentleness, care for the other, and forgiveness when sometimes forgiveness in human terms would seem an impossibility. 

Let love change your heart. It is not an easy path. Yet, it is the understanding of another's pain, another's struggle, another's true beauty as one made in the Image and Likeness of Almighty God.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Blessing in Pastoral Garden"

HOLY SPIRIT IN OUR LIVES

 

                                                                                       Freepik

Mariam and others were experiencing great change in their lives.  Nonplussed, she turned to the Rabbi.

Rabbi Jesus told her, "The Spirit is doing something new in your lives; otherwise how do you account for the newness, creativity and freshness that is blowing through your lives? I break you out of your mould; what does not change is dead. Life means change. Dare to take a chance; dare the risk inherent in all new growth."

Many of us become comfortable in old routines, and become mired in emotional ruts. Sometimes, life brings along great change in circumstances such as those inherent in relationships, home, employment or geographical domicile. None of this is easy, and we may find ourselves protesting dramatic change. 

Yet, let us not forget, that it may be the Holy Spirit of God at work in our lives. All life is change. All change may bring growth. As sons and daughters of God, we continue to grow as the Father prepares us to be able to live in the eternal Light of His Purity and Holiness.

Be courageous and embrace change, when you discern that the change comes from God. Gracious acceptance of what we cannot change, may help us reach serenity and inner peace.