In the past I’ve had musings about how well I am leading my life, the things that make me anxious. Through reading and meditation, I have found some thoughts which eased my anxiety(Matt 6:25). Friends have suggested I share them. This blog is not to voice my opinions, seek converts, or convince you of anything. I only seek to share the truth as it is given to me. I dedicate these words to St. Paul, the great evangelist, and pray that he may in some way inspire me, and you, as we go forward
I feel that some may be glancing at this blog from time to time to see what may be of interest. Others may believe that some of these words are mine only, a personal story to be read about me and my thoughts – which too often may appear “heavy or preachy.”
That is not why I write, nor why you should consider reading.
I really don’t believe anything I write is “interesting”. If that is what you seek, there are more fun-filled sites to entertain you. My words are personal sometimes, true, but only insofar as they pertain to answers I have perceived to calm my own anxieties, my worries, my stresses in this life, and I believe my experiences may help calm your fears also. Yes, that is sometimes heavy stuff. “Do Not Be Anxious” IS the title of this blog.
And there are some words I write (or re-present from others) that are not meant for me. I get no great insights from them, yet I believe them important. I feel compelled to write them even as I am sometimes compelled to sneeze. I can’t stop it, and I don’t know why. Perhaps there are some small “germs” in the words that you are meant to catch out of the air.
I spend time most mornings in meditation. Sometimes ten minutes, sometimes an hour. Usually I read some words of The Liturgy of the Hours, Scripture or saintly authors, and my mind ponders. Sometimes I write. It is in that spirit, words to be meditated upon, as I do, that I write this blog.
If you read these words in that serious spirit, asking of God: “Lord, what would you have me do?” and still come away with nothing of value from these words --- then laugh!! At least in that way they will make you feel better. And the laughter will relieve, even if for only a moment, your anxieties. And then the time I spent writing this will have been worth it.
Never let evil talk pass your lips; say only the good things men need to hear, things that will really help them. Do nothing that will sadden the Holy Spirit with whom you were sealed against the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, all passion and anger, harsh words, slander, and malice of every kind. In place of these, be kind to one another, compassionate, and mutually forgiving, just as God has forgiven you in Christ. (Eph 4: 29-32)
Well, I should think the ice skates and new winter coat should work. I mean, it's SURE to warm up to above freezing as soon as you go with the flow and prepare for it! (Like the time they closed the country western dance place near my house about 2 months after I broke down and bought expensive cowboy boots to dance in! It never fails.) :-) ~ Fran
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe how cold it was today. I had to take Sadie to a dentist appointment and it was -17 with windchill and it just hurt to walk from the car to the office!
ReplyDeleteWell Fran, I see you really get it. And Cam, I KNOW you appreciate my feelings, but I don't hear any suggestions from either of you. Before I wrote this reply I Googled "Novena For Warm Weather" and found no responses. With all the crazy things people pray for, I thought sure there would be one there for that.
ReplyDeleteYou know, God and I have always had this arrangement: If I don't pray for a good score on the golf course, He'll take care of the weather. It NEVER rains on the golf course, as any true golfer knows. Maybe if I went out in the garage and dusted off my clubs .........
OH, I didn't understand you wanted a SPIRITUAL solution! <>
ReplyDeleteWell, you could:
1) Offer it up for anyone who is undergoing serious temptation at the moment;
2) Pray in gratitude for all the things you do have to stave off the cold; i.e. a house, a furnace, money to pay for fuel, warm blankets, coats, hats, gloves, boots, a car so you don't have to walk in it. I think you get the drift;
3) Use it to practice a virtue. Fortitude and perseverance come to mind.
Any of the above should really aggravate the devil, who obviously is only using the cold as a torment and to tempt you away from God. So the best strategy is stick it in his eye and make it make you MORE holy. If you do these things, soon enough the devil will realize he would be better served bringing in a warm stream of air from the Gulf of Mexico to get the temperature up to 60 degrees or so. You would let off the spiritual exercises, and viola!, he wins! (But, HA, jokes on him!)
The LAST thing you want to do is even THINK about your golf clubs, let alone glance at them, because that would be tantamount to Punxsutawney Phil seeing his shadow, and you know what THAT means! SO PLEASE, HAVE MERCY ON US, AND DON'T DO THAT!
:-) ~ Fran
You know, as I was driving to church yesterday (which took me twice as long as usual) in the falling snow (which set an all-time record for the month already) and the temperature at 20 degrees (which was to be the HIGH for this week), I thought: Enough already! We've got the record; I'll buy the t-shirt: We're Number One!! Yeah!
ReplyDeleteNow, stop it.