Catholic Hermit: Loving Mercy!

The Lord has been so very good to this old, nothing, consecrated Catholic hermit!  However, after a work-mode bonanza of some needed energy and bits of hermitage progress, the body is feeling increase of pain and depletion.

The Lord remains so loving and merciful, with perks along the way, though.  Yesterday had to drive to civilization for way-past-due truck (named Precious Blood) lube and tune and oil change, and in the wait room was a man who struck up conversation.  He noticed my crucifix and sure enough is Catholic.  Great conversation with a good soul of which he certainly is.  God provides!

Am today just now dressed and trying to get the pained body up and off this mattress to head out to the back side of hermitage to continue caulking up under an overhang.  My angel is with me, and I've had inspiration as to how to rig a scaffold-type effect on some steps so that a ladder can be placed under a section of overhang on each side of a deck, so that the old hermit can reach up to do necessary caulking and eventual trim painting.

Ladder to heaven?  Well, that is a good thought while working today, as best as the body can be pushed to work despite radiating pain causing loads of nausea as well as pain going down legs and into feet.  Ah, it all could be so much worse.

On another loving and merciful note, after Mass on Saturday evening last, some women conversed kindly, and long-story-short, called over a man who right then and there said he'd come help this hermit install the microwave above a range.  When he arrived, he seriously asked if I am trying to live in here as it is.  My, I laughed and said this is on the upswing, for sure!  Yes, am living in here, as is.

While the man did not install the microwave, he will come back to lift it onto a mounting plate once the hermit here gets that work done.  The wonderfully competent and kindly young countertop template man came on Monday morning, and he explained to me how to mount the microwave mounting metal strip, to add some toggle bolts for strength, and noted that part of the support will come from bolting down into the microwave from cabinet above.

Such helpfulness not only from the women and man from the parish as well as the countertop template man--well, it is all very encouraging to the heart, mind, and soul.

Let us all remember just how much a bit of kindness, thoughtfulness, and encouragement can accomplish in those who we encounter either in person or in our thoughts of them.  It takes faith in the latter concept, to consider how kindly thoughts can affect souls all over the world and in the great beyond, of souls continuing on in eternity.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another as Jesus loves us!

Now, to get the body up and out, into physical motion, with the mind and heart and spirit praying love and mercy for all.

Think, Talk, Walk in Love

All morning the nothing Catholic hermit has been thinking about various people who come to mind.  These are the someones of whom this hermit must love--no, is allowed to have the privilege of loving. 

Love is most certainly the greatest gift we are given and may and can give to God and others.  As St. Bernard explains, if we love God in Himself, we are loving all of Him which includes all His created Thought and Being, which means all creatures, which means all of us, living and on the other side, and all the angels of light and darkness.  God loves.  God Is Love.

Of course, not all creatures and spirits love God.

This morning, then, several persons came to mind who have been challenges to love for one reason or another.  Unkindness, mostly, was the difficulty with some who came to mind.  However, the realities of how some people treat others in this life, are marvelous practice pieces of learning Divine Love.  Yes, through, with, and in His Real Presence (Who has His abode in us--in this hidden, tuckered out hermit this morning and right now!--could turn any love challenges into love because of His grace to do so.

Love is quite a powerful gift we are given, and it is downright fun to utilize this power in thoughts.

It is yet another practice and gift to love with our tongues.  Yes, take those thoughts of love which powerfully have overcome any negativity (and we all have our ugliness that create challenges to others loving us and us loving others), and be loving in words uttered among others, to others, for others.  This may include writing loving notes to people, loving emails to others, loving comments on Facebook and Twitter.

Finally, it is a workout (as much or more than all the old wood planks the old hermit pry-barred and demo'd out of the ceiling spots and remaining walls) to utilize the gracious, powerful gift of love when with people, to be loving and to do loving actions in their presence or behind their backs.  (We usually think only of being spiteful or complaining behind another person's back, but just think how we are given the ability and power to be loving behind their backs!)

In a few minutes, after the back stops its spasms of pain, this hermit is going to load up the truck with some supplies for venturing the distance into civilization.  There has been an invitation to help celebrate someone's birthday, a family someone.  This will be the first humans seen in a week!  How strange to realize the hermit has adapted to solitude by the grace of His Real Presence.  It is peaceful and does not at all seem as if no people present in this time frame.

People from this realm and the other side seem so very present to the hermit, especially with the thoughts of love conquering other realities, for truly, not everyone is all that loving to us, and we aren't that loving to them.  That is why St. John the Apostle encourages us to walk in love, to love one another as God loves us.

St. John Climacus mentions we ought to love God as much as we love our friends.  Well, this hermit immediately thought rather it ought to love its friends (and its enemies) as much as it loves God!  God Is so always very good and loving to this hermit, and Is so perfect and magnanimous, that loving Him seems easier than loving others or even itself.

The hermit has been asked to bake the birthday cake of which the birthday someone has chosen a recipe.  Should be interesting and fodder for more loving thoughts, talk, and walk.  

Yes, there may be strains or comments or who-knows-what for we never do know what others are experiencing in their day.  Perhaps they are tired, or frustrated, or working too hard, or coming down with a cold, or misbehaving for any number of reasons. Perhaps they are stressed from financial losses, or uncertain about our country's woes. 

Even this hermit may struggle with grumpiness due to the manual labor today, or the too-soft bed there that causes excessive left hip pain.  Well, allow love to take over any grumpiness and any added pain.  Love sleeping on the floor if need-be!  Let love take over.  Think, talk, and walk in love.

Yet, we are given the power of LOVE!  No matter what other someones are feeling or expressing that may not exude love, we CAN!  

Am praying and will keep praying for His Real Presence to absorb this hermit into His omnipotent, omniscient, eternal LOVE, and in His Love, think, talk and walk in love for Him and for others.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another and remain in His Love, always.