Catholic Hermit: Scatter

Scatter.  That is how it seems to me--just a lot of "scatter."  

We all have scatter.  Piles of mail to go through: find a place for the keepers, a place for the bills to be paid, and recycle container for the rest.  Appointments to make and keep or ponder and cancel, phone calls to answer, note times and dates, phone calls to make.  Stuff to sort and put away, take away, trash or recycle.  Just a pilfering of the multitudinous scatter tasks and scatter thoughts--not to forget the scatter emotions that come with each present moment of dealing with scatter. 

It takes body, mind, and heart to move through scatter.

As a consecrated Catholic hermit, I am realizing just how badly the scatter has taken roost with the months of being between hermitages and needing to stay with family and friends.  Plus, I am realizing I was quite used to construction mode with all the scatter all about in the environment of remodeling as well as mind-scatter with figuring major construction tasks from as a novice carpenter not expecting to have to enter into that type of scatter--and for several years at older age.

Like anyone who is trying to settle in, who  perhaps has had to go off the path somewhat when circumstances interfered with the usual, we ourselves are the only ones who can ultimately get back on track, settle in, discipline to listen and discern and heed and do God's will.  A big portion of God's will is to then create the scenario and equip ourselves with the means externally but very much more so the internal fortitude to follow through on what God desires of and for us.

Just a bit ago I realized the day is waning, and I have not brought in a box of books, not one box.  I still can.  My back has been resting for yet another day, but the scatter has needed action of the external type although prayer is always an integral part of any external action.  Even if not conscious or verbal prayer, prayer is within and the Holy Spirit is uttering in thought flashes or heart beats, prayer on our behalves--for those of us who love the Lord and know in faith that He is in us and us in Him.

But the effort I need in discipline against so much external and internal scatter is mine to engender.  Thus far I'm not doing that good a job at focus on the spiritual "tools" that will shape the day in order, peacefulness--well, let me write it yet again:  The Nine S'!

Where is the silence, solitude, slowness, suffering, selflessness, simplicity, stillness, stability, and serenity?  I find the suffering, yes; that is the easiest as it is always present in a noticeable manner in my body.  Yet the other s' that are the platform to what is to be my Gospel Rule of Life, are woefully sketchy other than, of course, solitude now that I'm not a guest in others' homes of recent note.  Silence is here other than when I put on background noise of some sort.  Yes, noise can be a pain management distraction technique. But it also is for me, a hermit, a form of scatter.

Slowness--yes, that is in abundance these days!  My pained body is woefully slow, but there is more to my slowness that is not positive, and that is the aspect of my body and mind railing against forcing up in the morning and tending to some sort of schedule.  I'm scattered!  The slowness is not so much a spiritual good-slowness of focused and intentional tending to the nuances of the Holy Spirit; my slowness these days and nights is human slowness, a weary slowness of which perhaps it is possible for me to push a bit, to make the pained body forget it is weary and propel into motion while yet having that slowness that makes movement effective.

Stillness and stability are choices, as well, for this hermit to be consciously making when scatter disrupts the previous development within of these and the other s'.  The past three days I've remained physical stabilized in this hermitage.  Some of that was made easy by a pain siege that nails me to the cross in body--but the mind can yet scatter!  The emotions can create a sense of more scatter, yet!  So stability has facets to consider and contend with in order for that "s" to shine as Christ's.

Serenity seems passive, yes; but the opposition is scatter of disjointed type--subtle--but not the peaceably subtle serenity that is ours with choice of our desire and will and God's grace.  

Selflessness--I suppose there can be a form of scatter in what is actually a false selflessness.  We can become scattered in our attempts at selfless thoughts and actions.  But the selflessness of the Nine S' is borne of a spirit ensconced in Christ's Spirit, His selfless love, His quintessential, sacrificial flow.  Selflessness of this latter type is something for which I pray.  A simple, outer example can come when we unconsciously shift from outer scatter to offer something in sacrifice of even our intended focus--even if in prayer as a hermit--to do or say or be for some other desire or need that God presents to us.  This selflessness can be very much an outer act or thought, but asked of us by God, often for others.

Well, I'm trying to settle down, trying to examine the scatter in order to sift and soften and settle all of it, body, mind, heart and even when my spirit seems scattered as a result of the other scatter.  I still will bring in at least one box of books and unpack them.  The books--all spiritual tomes--remind me of the good that spiritual reading, including lectio divina as Bibles and other writings of scriptural exegesis are in some of the boxes.  

Just the reminder that the books will provide bring hope of returning to a greatly reduced scatter, to the desired prayer for essentially no scatter intruding in my hermit day, my hermit night, my hermit body, mind, heart, and spirit.

Otherwise, I also must trust that if my body is this fatigued, that simply examining the reality of scatter is doing much good right now.  Simply face scatter in varying modes and degrees can help "simplify" scatter.  Simplifying the whole issue of scatter is of benefit, too!

My God, I love You!  I love Your patience with whatever is my present moment struggle.  You know I'm trying.  Thank You!

Catholic Hermit: Already the Phase Shifts

Living in the Order of the Present Moment brings shifts in the daily routine of a hermit, and these shifts can occur within moments.

So it is that this consecrated Catholic hermit is shifting yet again to what some might consider to be a more acceptable mode, for the depth of our soul's relationship with God Is Love is within, remaining in His Love, and not really externally seen.  What we do see in any given moment is but a glimpse of that moment.

And this is true for ourselves, living in the silence of solitude yet taking what God brings each moment as a gift, and in that gift there is always the call to service.  That service can be listening to someone who calls (and for me that is rare indeed) or to read an email, or to write an email, with the words uplifting others, inspiring, or encouraging in love, as one who loves in Christ and from Him flows Love.  Always the love finds its way outward, like a stream into a river that meets the incoming tides (of love) in an estuary.  Love is of God and ability to love is God's gift to us and also His desire for and of us.

Today the physical pain was far worse--just when I thought I might attempt a trip into civilization to get an eye drop prescription filled.  The present moment God brought, moment after moment, included variations in pain enough to keep the body mostly down, resting.

Perhaps tomorrow there will be the journey for the provision; yet no matter that, each moment is a journey in itself.  The soul benefits if desiring to benefit, if the heart is faithful to Christ and trusts in His invitation, perhaps a command: Remain in My Love.

So that is just what I'm doing--and the doing is made possible only by God Is Love!

Catholic Hermit: Ever the Law Above All Others

This morning I read the second reading for Sunday Mass: Romans 13: 8-10.

The Living Word cuts to the core and makes very clear the daily and life-long direction in our lives.  We are to follow God's law, and again we are reminded that Love fulfills the law.

"Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another;
for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
The commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill;
you shall not steal; you shall not covet,' and whatever other 
commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying,
[namely] 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
Love does no evil to the neighbor, hence, 
love is the fulfillment of the law..'"

As a human and as a consecrated Catholic hermit, I repeatedly appreciate the Scripture, the Living Word of God, focusing me on what is ultimate in fulfilling our earthly sojourns toward union with God.  It is love.

I also note the simple point made: Love does no evil to the neighbor.

There are all types of evil that we can do--beyond what might come to mind in ways that we can seek to excuse ourselves.  But negative thoughts of others, or detracting, or being disagreeable, or feeling resentment, or taking issue with others' thoughts and ideas--all that can be a type of evil for it harms in one way or another not only the other person, but it wastes one's own time and talent in busying about what others are or are not doing, saying, thinking, writing, or feeling.

A couple weeks ago I happened to learn what happened to a woman who was canonically approved to the hermit life by her bishop.  She seemed to have disappeared, and I had been concerned all along--although truly none of my business!  I had been concerned due to what a young priest mentioned, proudly enough, as the bishop's and the woman's take on hermit life.  It was quite austere and rigid; and the whole process occurred within a few months of the bishop's arrival, within his first year in the diocese.

As it has turned out, the woman ceased to be a hermit nearly four years ago.  Nothing was ever noted, which made me wonder if those who go through the public profession complete with videotaped Mass and ceremony, announcement in diocese paper, radio interview, proclamation by the bishop--well, what if the person ceases to be a hermit of the canonical (CL603) variety?  

In the meantime, the bishop has canonically approved some older women, and this time with some rather unusual living arrangements that diverge from the first woman's rather romanticized hermit life style (although that was not adhered to for long, much to my relief for I had been concerned with what was imposed or perhaps that she decided was hermit-like, of which not at all practical nor feasible for long in present moment existence, culturally, environmentally, developmentally, or otherwise).

Then I read something in the Living Word of God, in which St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, and in part he admonished to not be involved in others' affairs.  And now today, I read the simple truth that loving one another is the fulfillment of the law. Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.

So I don't need to be concerned about how or what goes on with other hermits, or be concerned when I perceive someone is attempting a vocation when too young or in too austere a manner, or conversely perhaps not in solitude that much, or approved by someone who does not know the person well nor know the hermit vocation well, either.  

Those are my perceptions, fact though they may be, from viewing that which is rather pointless to observe; and it really is not my business nor does it matter, for the situations all right themselves sooner or later.  No harm done, really, for it was a lot of initial publicity involving various clerics and parishioners and reporters--but yet also was sincerely undertaken; and I'm sure it was all done in love, regardless.

And that is all I need to take from any situation, as well as what I need to give to any situation: Love.

I used to get wrought up when there would be inconsistencies or wrongs covered over, particularly when church laws and decisions were not being upheld, or when civil laws were not being upheld such as involving priests committing sex crimes or in matters--church laws or bishop counsel decisions not adhered to or other issues--far less crucial as that. 

I suppose it was my not trusting in the omnipotence of God to handle matters of His Church; and I do think my reactions and upsets and speaking out or writing letters, or in whatever means I tried to right wrongs according to canon laws or otherwise--missed the key element for which Jesus was adamant: the law above all laws is God's law, and God's law is the law of love.

When I view all with love (and that means thinking nor doing any form of even the most subtlest of negative or detracting "evils"), I am united with Christ, remaining in His Love, and thus the concerns are no longer issues, as there is something far greater to consider: Love.  God Is Love.  And God has it all worked out for us and for His and our Church, as well as for our individual souls.

Frankly, the young woman spent a couple years or less trying to live out a rather romanticized, austere version of a hermit existence, yet living with her parents, had a little back yard hut in wooded area, filled with rather gory art and an immense and bloody crucifix.  She prayed there in solitude for hours as well as in parishes during the day.  She had and still has a true sincerity and genuine love of Jesus, obvious by what she's written--filled with a yearning for and delight in Jesus.  And while since she is exploring where other she fits into God's realm here on earth and desires lovingly to be of service to others--well, it all will be well and all shall be well!  (St. Julian of Norwich grasped this reality:  All is well and all shall be well....)

When we love one another, and love as in Christ's love, there is not the worry or concern that can easily verge into fretting or forming opinions one way or another, or of being distracted from our own living out the law of love.  For we are to, ourselves, grasp and live out the love in Christ as He loves; and in Christ, all are taken care of one way or another according to His purposes and will.

How far from other types of law is God's law of love, the fulfillment of all laws: to love God and to love one another!

It will remain a very good and necessary exercise for me to consider all aspects of even the most deceptive and subtle ways in which I can do evil to others--ways that I'd not considered as evil but truly are or can be!  That which is not resting within Christ's love be it thought, word, or deed, can become an evil in the smallest degree.

Now, I'm not going to become scrupulous in turning over every little thought, word, or deed to a consuming level. But it will be a good exercise to examine the same now and then, for a few days here, or at least some hours--and just see what's what, within.  

For one thing, if I get upset over what others do or say, or if I perceive a wrong course of action but am not the one making the decisions--well, then it is a cue that I am involving myself in others' affairs, thoughts, opinions or actions when I am to be involving myself in Christ, and in Christ am to remain in His love and to live the law that fulfills all laws: to love!

When I live the law of love, I must admit that weights and concerns and frustrations and temptation to get worked up over what others are doing, right or wrong--are lifted and dissolved like no more than the little soap bubbles that float and quickly pop out of sight.  Or like the many breaths that one breathes and then realizes did not even notice taking breaths (of which we rarely do take notice of our intake of breaths every moment or so, hour after hour, day after day, year after year).

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Am so thankful for the couple who brings me His Real Presence in the consecrated Host each Sunday morning!  

Catholic Hermit Shares Beautiful Catechism of Catholic Church Selection

In light of loving God in Himself and loving others (through God's love, by God's love) the following citation from The Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It is a beautiful reminder of our purpose in life.  I pray every human can come to this acceptance of vocation even if we do not realize it by those terms--but that we get the gist, that we grasp that we can be transformed by His Love.

"1877 The vocation of humanity is to show forth the image of God and to be transformed into the image of the Father's only Son.  This vocation takes a personal form since each of us is called to enter into the divine beatitude; it also concerns the human community as a whole."

Now, here in my cozy yet rough-hewn and barely livable hermitage, I continue to rest on the mattress while the physical pain of this mortal frame gradually subsides.  Perhaps tomorrow I will be up more and back to the manual labor.  I admit that I've asked the Lord if this type of work and existence is the purpose He desires of me.  Then I remind myself that Jesus and His dad were carpenters; it is good work.  While waiting for health and the inner motivation to proceed in the temporal, I pray and ponder and hope you readers are remembering how much God loves each of us.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Remain in His Love!