Reflection and the Beauty of Transforming Grace

Because I haven't been posting much over the past couple years as I had wanted to, I am now trying to make a concerted effort to do so. In this process, I've been reviewing and reflecting on my older posts.

Wow...

It's hard reading things that I know are true and right but so quickly I have, not forgotten, but have lost focus of, things that should be clear, things that must be black & white I have let fall into the gray.  I guess this is just part of life and learning as I get older, and hopefully by the grace of God, wiser.

Sometimes we, and this is so hard to admit, fall backwards. You know, taking two steps forward only to slip three steps back. That kind of thing where you're trying desperately to move forward but you just can't seem to get ahead. It could also be focus too. I'm not or haven't been focusing on what I should. I have been distracted.

First things first. I will freely admit that once again I have been distracted by the currents of the day; the economy, the political arena/stage, my own selfish desires and worries. As a result my spiritual growth has stalled somewhat. What got me going recently was taking time out on Good Friday with a spiritual brother and traveling to Mount Saint Mary University to go through the stations of the cross at the grotto. It truly was beautiful. I needed it. Not only did I need it then at that time as a retreat and escape from distractions to focus on the spiritual, but I also need need that break to occur more regularly.

This is what I'm finding out about myself as a person and more importantly in my spiritual relationship with Yeshua. I must make time and for me personally it must be outdoors in God's creation, in the woods, on a mountain, by a river or stream, this is where God meets me. Yes, He's everywhere, but this is where we hangout. I've known this for a while but amid the noise and distraction I lose focus on it over and over. Now I realize this is my fight. I must battle the ever encroaching distractions in my life and get away. For spiritual clarity, for renewal, for communion with the Divine.

Practicing the Presence.

Out there which in ways is really in here. Getting away from everything else in order to get within myself. To admit, to confess, to come clean, to be as a stone washed by the river. Letting God in to smooth over my rough edges. I must understand myself to understand others. We share the same struggles but with different faces.

Well that's what this whole thing is about, Life. Living in the space between. Life is the Constant Struggle. We are all living in the Tension.

Some of us like the old song find ourselves going down to the river to pray, others of us go to the mountain top. Either way we must choose where we will go and we must go somewhere, it's no use not going somewhere. Take time to get away. Even if it's a half hour it's better to go than not. God rewards us when we go. Faith gets us going. If you need faith, ask. It always begins with asking. Like the man who brought his kid to Jesus to be healed from an unclean spirit. When Jesus asked Him if he believed he said, "LORD I believe, help my unbelief." That is powerful. I know I believe but the parts of me that are still struggling to believe I know God will help me believe.

So let that be your prayer, "LORD I believe, help my unbelief." Next thing you know you'll be out there hiking and praying like the saints of old.

Be blessed my friend.