Catholic Hermit Wishes...

I wish that I had more spiritually inspiring comments to share!  Perhaps the best is to share that even a relatively hidden, consecrated, Catholic hermit has times of seeming spiritual doldrums.  Perhaps it is no such a doldrum as more it is a phase of the temporal aspects required of us mortals also affects a Catholic hermit!

There are bills to pay and maintenance responsibilities of where a hermit lives in solitude and silence.  Yes, I have to do more manual labor now than what I'd otherwise undertake.  The spiritual reading and the time of prayer in which one is not actively engaged bodily are each sparse in the daily routine.  The only interruption is caused by the right arm being so over-used--afflicted with Carpenter's Elbow, a thumb "drill whip" injury resurfacing, and the twice-operated-on shoulder erupting with inflammation.

So the day before yesterday I prayed about those without limbs or missing a limb, and then considered people who are ambidextrous or learn to use the opposing limb of dominance.  I began using my left arm, elbow, and hands to do weeding.  The result?  My left arm was unused to such efforts; I pulled muscles in the upper left back that affect the neck.  Now my left arm is in pain and left hand suffers from some numbness.  

Balance is important in anyone's life, and this includes balance of working the body either in exercise or manual labor.  It is also important to have balance when working our brains, emotions, and spirit.

We've had a weather shift in the night, and that is most helpful to shift activity here, for the body reacts to weather shifts and must slow down some; and the elements are not conducive for being outside, either.  Yet I must press on with some efforts for finances have a shelf-life soon approaching, and time is nigh for me to finish this renovation, sell, and go God-knows-where.

So I will do some caulking today.  And one thing that is not out of balance in this hermit's life is that of prayer.  Prayer continues no matter if resting or working, no matter if spending a bit of time reading the daily Mass Scriptures or reading instructions as to when to apply Weed Stop to the lawn.

I also continue to pray much for the various prayer intentions people message me or call or email, or for what the news of the world prods me to pray.  The last living aunt is 94 today, the spiritual father has been ill but is improving, a baby was born prematurely and is striving to breathe and thrive, an elderly man has dangerously low blood pressure and heart rate.

The woman who has been purchasing trees returned this morning, and we walked about the gardens in the drizzle, seeing what else she wishes to add to her gardens.  I gave greatly discounted deals for she has a love for trees, and the trees that I've collected, tended, and brought to two locales now, will have a good home with someone who grasps the beauty and healing quality of trees.  

The detachment from what was is immense, and I praise God that I am able to let go of what was so gloriously allowed me in times past, of learning about trees of all types and of having the means to acquire them, plant, tend, and bring much enjoyment to many people--especially myself!  My spiritual father always said how the gardens I had in my previous locale were a true glorification of God, a gift to God, and beautiful in the sight of God and mankind.  Yes, they were!

And here, people who drove by sometimes would slow and call out how beautiful the trees or that this is a veritable botanical gardens.  A neighbor woman has spoken only once, and it was slowing her truck on the way to her work to say what a joy it is every morning for her to wake up and be able to look out at such loveliness in these gardens.

So we do go through phases, be as a hermit or as an anyone with whatever vocation is ours while on this earth.  Sometimes we are more consciously aware of a balance in spiritual efforts, but then again, perhaps God does have it all in His purview and providence as to how we are spiritually progressing.  We may think we are not at all--so tied to our earthly labors that we do not dream nor write love poetry to God, or that we are out of balance and not doing as we ought in our spiritual growth or attention to lectio divina (spiritual reading, particularly that of the Scriptures and pondering thereof).

But perhaps we are, more than our minds can think, for when we are thinking we may not be progressing within our souls as much as when our minds and bodies are distracted with work enough so that our hearts and souls are maybe more freed from ourselves to love God above all things and others as God loves.

I don't know.  I do wish in my conscious mind that I had something more inspiring or inspired to share, but perhaps the fulfillment of such a wish must be left to God and the reader.

My hands--both now--are numb enough from writing.  Time to stop!

Catholic Hermit: Strawberry Perspective

I'm heading out to pick strawberries as soon as the mind can gain energy and perspective to counter the physical pain and resulting fatigue.  Seems strange, huh--that having awakened three hours ago, quite early, it has taken this long to get up--and am still not off the mattress?

This nothing consecrated Catholic hermit considers perspective.  Yesterday, while picking what is a dwindling strawberry population, thoughts about "perspective" surfaced from within the thickly green leaves of the berry plants.  I can pick from above them, reaching down in, using fingers to shuffle the leaves, revealing those berries ripe for the plucking.

Or, when I walk a few steps in a row and turn back, I can sometimes see berries missed--peaking at me from a sideways view--perhaps laughing a bit that I missed them from previous vantage point.  Then I can also lean over, angling my head sideways, and find yet more berries that otherwise would be missed.

Inevitably, this morning I will also find some overripe berries--missed totally from yesterday's picking, the perspective shifts having overlooked them.

The thoughts about perspective came to fruition in the berry patch.  I consider perspective from the passage of time.  It can be minutes, hours, days, years--how time affects perspective and perspective affects time.  Viewpoints alter within the mystery of perspective.

This morning I was thinking of the shift on-going for the past--has it been three weeks now?--since I determined to stop the negative pain-thoughts upon waking.  It is not easy to change perspective on high-level, physical pain!  Sometimes yet the effects of pain evade me, and I let pain start to nibble on my conscious awareness--to eat at me.  Perhaps it, too, laughs a bit that I did not see it hiding under attempts of habit-distraction--until thoughts have begun to ripen into sour, seedy pain-taste.

I immediately praised God for my life, for being alive, for strawberry thoughts on perspective!  And since I fell asleep last night with yet another musical composition of unusual instrumentation and upbeat rhythm, the tune was lilting in me--along with penetrating pain--and my perspective could walk the path of one view or another.

Choosing the perspective of possibility won out over the perspective of past considerations--mostly veering to memories that include other choices, disappointing episodes.  I wonder at the perspective of the musician I have been pondering lately, whose life is a mixed perspective of highs and lows but has come out on top, with mountain view perspective.  He is refreshingly open, honest, and positive despite the mind burned out by drugs that he readily admits he wished he'd never tried nor taken.

Music became his perspective and a protective enclave from an abusive father.  Music continued to be that which provided a different perspective, a positive view from all angles, including the perspective when looking back over his life.  He holds no grudges, for example.

I find myself, in the berry patch, selecting fruit that includes some not quite ripe, for the warmth of the berries in the green, cardboard containers helps ripen them further along with the sun of this hermit's desert, eremitic "enclave".  I also consume, while picking, those berries overripe, tasting the sour-mash flavor as a reminder that this taste, too, is part of perspective.  The oddly-formed, as well, pop into the mouth--often having far sweeter flavor than the visually perceived beauties.

Fr. Vincent emailed yesterday some wisdom in dealing with ourselves and others.  He offers the perspective of Jesus' way with us as well as our way of being for others.  He said Jesus' way with us and others can be perceived as a cleansing agent.  Jesus (and we can, too) approaches people as a cleansing agent that cleanses sins without being tainted or corrupted Himself (or ourselves).

It is now time to rise (perhaps after taking a bit more Excedrin (aspirin with caffeine) and head out to pick what might be at most one or two quarts of berries.  I will add these to the tomatoes set out on the roadside table.  People have been most generous in leaving contributions!  

There have been some different contributions, such as someone left two wimpy, not-fresh, store-bought ears of corn in the contribution clay pot.  I tossed them in the ditch for I have more than enough produce and would not leave out perceivably bad produce for others.  The point of contributions is that if someone cannot contribute, that is all right.  The produce is out there regardless.  But evidently someone's perception of their old ears of corn differed from my perception, perhaps differed from reality.

Perception includes that aspect of perceiving truth as opposed to untruth: reality versus deception.

The other evening I noticed that a quart of berries had been eaten down to nearly half--and the same with a quart of cherry tomatoes.  Someone would have had to stand out there by the road and nibbled for awhile.  I was amused yet also rather dismayed.  From my perspective, I'd not have the nerve to do that.  From the nibbler's perspective, perhaps he or she was very hungry or thought produce was out there for nibbling purposes and not to take home.  

Regardless, I picked enough tomatoes and strawberries to refill the containers.   Someone else came along and had the perspective that the the produce was lush, fresh-picked, and worth leaving a contribution that I admit, from my financially tight perspective, I'd not myself leave that much in the pot.

Our circumstances affect our perspectives.  I cannot now afford such generous contributions for fresh produce.  I eat the ears of corn in the garden that are partly opened by presumably a raccoon.  I eat the misshapen berries and the rather bitter greens, or those with little bug-holes nibbled in the leaves, or the part of the apple that a rodent has not bitten.  Suits me fine; and from my perspective, I think it best to place out for others, the very best of the gardens.

When my daughter visited, she was at first, as I had been at first--surprised and a bit stunned when someone evidently took lots of produce and did not leave a contribution.  Even though the contribution pot is placed out as just that--if someone wants to leave or not leave a contribution, fine.  So I had to laugh at myself when I had that less freeing reaction and perspective earlier on, when the water bill was high and time spent planting and picking, and the investment in seeds and containers was fresh in the process.

But I learned (and my daughter experienced this perspective, as well) when later in the day the person evidently returned and left a contribution that was exceedingly generous.  This has happened time and again to the point that I have come to truly place the contribution pot out there with the perspective of no set expectation of return.  Yet I am increasingly amazed at the generosity of others and what humor, also, can come from a silent offering to anonymous passers-by.

We do have a choice and some control over perspective, though.  We can choose to move about with our bodies, eyes, ears as well as our minds and emotions and spirits.  In this way, we gain perspectives--not just one, but several vantage-point perspectives.  We also can thus decide to choose positive or negative for and in the perspectives.

It does seem that each thought and situation and person, each memory and present moment, contain possibilities for perspective.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love God above all things and one another as Jesus loves us.  Let us consider God and love and one another from various, positive perspectives.

Love and Service

The pain is lifting some, although it never goes away.  It is all good, for the body rests while the mind, heart and soul rest in His Real Presence and gain perspective, refreshment.

Have written to some spiritual friends, some thoughts, and answers to some of their questions, and gratitude for some of their marvelous insights.

Reflected upon the spiritual father reminding that the family members have their own issues and troubles, their relationships and lives to address.  Yes, this is so.

Today was also reminded of some times in which this nothing had not been so thoughtful of its own mother.  Wept and apologized, soul to soul, today at one point.  It is a blessing to weep in remorse and to know the other hears and grasps, forgives and loves for where the other is, is more light than what we here experience on any given day.  Jesus has mercy!

Later shared e-laughter with a message to a friend of 53 years whose insights are cherished.  Christianity and lives lived are a good basis for encouraging one another.  The friend emailed that am well experienced with handling pain of all types.  This nothing responded that we in our lives had our years, our times and places, to become adults, to be spouses, parents, friends and to do it in the way that seemed right to us then.  

Did we ever criticize or think our parents were not quite as trendy or adept as us, when we were in our pride-stride in our twenties and thirties--healthy, privileged, successful, good-looking, educated, and surely (in our minds) wise beyond our years?  This nothing certainly did, mostly in reaction to things said, or in thoughts.  Ah, how smart we were...not.

Well, we each--the friend and this nothing--had our physical health compromised about the same time.  The friend through a stress-related, debilitating virus that affected immune system, heart, and left chronic pain and fatigue.  The nothing through a debilitating car accident, divorce, surgeries from which there was no return to life in the world and career and with children as it had been.  We were in our early thirties.  Mercifully, we were humbled and saved some of the finding our places, climbing the world's ladder.

But yes, this nothing recognizes that others who criticize and snap at times, are signaling they need more space, or that they have stressed, or that they have desires for their own lives that have to do with their peers, and others who are in their current places of career and parenting and being wives and husbands.  It is all understandable.  And this nothing's role is to love unconditionally and to pray and to serve--this latter when asked and when wise and prudent to do so.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another, as we are all little children; and let us love God, for He Is Love.

Hermit (and Anyone's) Perspectives, Thought Processes

Finished a book detailing some lives of early desert mothers, circa 5th and 6th centuries.  They mostly were penitents who had major conversions causing them to turn totally from their previous lives and go out literally into the desert to pray and live out their lives loving and seeking God.

One of the contributors (think it was with the life of Maria, the niece of a hermit desert father named Abraham) mentioned that the early Christians gained in faith and progressed spiritually beyond others due to their ability to think and perceive the spiritual.  They did not get caught in the literal, nor legalism, nor in linear, concrete, temporal-type thinking.

The distinction of the early Christians and their flights to spiritual heights and glorious encounter with God, was due to their ability to appreciate metaphor, symbolism, and deeper meaning of various levels in Scripture and in the preaching and teaching of the early church.

It was presented that otherwise, if we do not have this ability to perceive, appreciate, ponder, and plumb the various layers and levels of spiritual thought and teaching, we remain prisoners to concretism, hair-splitting, and bondage to that which is not going to lift us to the heights and depths beyond the temporal realities and into the spiritual realms.

The whole thing reminded this nothing Catholic hermit of its paradigm of the floaters and the dockers.  But, it had never read nor considered that in another time period, early on in our Christian roots, indeed there were mostly if not all Christians who could perceive and think metaphorically and spiritually, rather than literally and dogmatically.  Thus, floaters abounded then and rose to Tabor and could see and grasp the transfiguration of Christ's life, teachings, death, resurrection and on-going abiding within our souls--our Savior in all details as well as broad sweeps of existence.

In our time period, however, there is more of a divergence, or at least a solid contingency of dockers, of those who have lost the foremost ability float with the Spirit.  Rather, the weight of canon laws and fund raising and status and designation and dualities has pervaded, causing disunion among believers who believe with humble, hope-filled hearts and those who believe because they think with determined, detail-filled heads.

Anyway, had never read from one of an early century make the point about Christians' lives and message being unique and blessed due to their ability to avoid the chains that Jesus came to break and set us prisoners free.  Yet today, many Christians seem to have the chains wound about their lives in temporal Catholic world debate over details that dim in the fullness of His Real Presence...His Real Presence: Father, Son, Holy Spirit
.

A Hermit's Thoughts on Being a Guest

Was reminded of a locution, twelve or so years ago:  "Be a guest."  For the past couple of days the words resurfaced--no doubt this hermit's guardian angel as messenger of His Real Presence, sent to remind of aspects this hermit has not so well been living for quite some earth time.  

Below are flow-of-consciousness-type thoughts shared in emails with a spiritual friend.  They are rambling thoughts, in part, and also answer some questions and comments from the friend, over the course of our e-conversation.

"Had the idea with that locution, or it seemed, that "be a guest" was to be considerate as a guest would be, and to realize that as guests, we are temporary and "borrowers" of anything that God has created, done for us, or is providing.  So we develop a behavior and mentality of gratitude for all, like guests ought to do, at least!  

And to be more demure, perhaps--not create arguments with our Host (and Hostess, Mary), and to go along with what others desire, while also expressing for what we hope and would like, when asked, or even if not, if it is not presuming or out of line or demanding.

"To simply be polite, as a guest would (or should), is another aspect.

"The point may be to LEARN more how to behave as a guest in this world and life and among people, and then learn to be considerate and thoughtful, more and not less.  So the natural self, or being ourself, would be a very nice and thoughtful self, and more compliant with God's world and His allowing us to be a guest here on earth, and a guest in His abode, which He has made inside us.

"'Be a guest' had to do with that, and learning the behaviors and thoughts at least interiorly--at least to ponder it--and to train ourselves in a better way of viewing God and HIs Creation, and of being a guest among many guests, even if others do not realize they are guests, too.  We are all guests here.  

"So consider, also, as personal example, terrible complaining.  Now, would one do that if a guest in someone's house here on earth?  Would one feel lonely and betrayed?  No.  Would one not brush teeth daily, or shun certain foods offered us, or be picky in any way?  Would we demand help with projects?  

"Guests do ask for things, though, of the host and hostess.  Where are the glasses, or for a drink of water?  A towel?  Would it be all right if we left for the afternoon, but will be back for supper?  Apologize that weI might not get in until late? That kind of thing.  Is there something the host or hostess would like us to do to help out during our stay?  Can we help with dishes?  Does the host or hostess mind if we read this book on his or her shelf?

"See?  It is just a different perspective when we place ourselves in this life as guests of His Real Presence and His Mother.  We'd ask permission a lot more.  There was a package in the mail, and it was from friend in SoCal. She sews beautifully and has good financial means, and she delights in gifting and wrapping everything to perfection. [This hermit[ noticed of the two, wrapped packages, in the smaller box a potential for something edible.  Decided it would be an Advent Gaudete gift, and to open it then and there!  Was ravenous, having forgotten to eat while focusing on insulation board and figuring out wall placements upstairs in the hermitage.  

"Sure enough, there was a candy bar tucked along with some work gloves in the small package. Downed the Payday: sugar and peanut energy.  Then realized had not even asked God if He'd mind the opening of the package before Christmas, as an Advent gift.  Instead, [this hermit] told Him what was going to do. 

"Am always seeming to be telling His Real Presence, not asking.  Even if would ask within, "Do You mind if...this or that?"   Would be better than not asking anything at all, and just going and doing, or telling Them.  I think this hermit would stop some unguest-like actions, if would learn to ask God as the Host, and/or Mary as Hostess.  

"Surely His Real Presence, by bringing to the conscious mind the years-past locution, wants this hermit to re-ponder "Be a guest"--mostly for attitude and perspective shift that will then concretely improve active beingness of body, mind, heart, and soul.

"In practicum, [for the hermit's spiritual friend's current visitor to her home], it would be rather fascinating to experiment being a guest while at the same time doing for a guest.  For one thing, if we observe someone who maybe is not the best guest, we can learn what not to be as a guest, and then change it to how we should be as a guest.  And then reflect upon it with God as our Host and Mary as our Hostess, for our stay here on earth.

"Back to being a guest ourselves, we would offer thoughts, actions, things to God, or we would offer to others as if they are our hosts and hostesses, through God.  Something like that.  So you are offering your guest supper this evening, even if he might not have the knack of being a guest in the way God would like us to be:  thoughtful, helpful, thankful, non-assuming, asking permission, checking in with the host's plans and schedule before making his own plans.

"You [the spiritual friend to whom hermit is writing] are right that God would want us to be ourselves--as even guests ought to be themselves...unless evil selves.  But being a guest of God is surely some different than being a guest of a human.  Being a guest of humans is not being a guest of One Who Is Eternal Perfection.  

In general, though, the locution ["Be a guest"] is a lesson to teach more how we can better act and react, how we can better perceive others and the world around, and the world we are in, especially our inner world.  

"Guests have their personalities, but it is how they treat their Host and Hostess and the other guests, that is probably the point He was making.  It is a marvelous locution to ponder, though, and one to learn by and from, and to stretch us in positive growth.

"The shepherds were guests; and on another socio-economic spectrum, the wise men were guests.  Angels were guests.  All are guests of baby Jesus, Mary, and Joseph and even of the animals in their stable.  Their behavior and words were no doubt different than when on the hillside tending sheep, when in their Persian houses with servants, but not probably too different for the angels when they are glorifying God, for they glorified Him in the manger and as messengers to people of the birth of Christ.

"Yet, [this hermit] does not often consider its angel as a guest, always visiting me--a boarder for life who is trying to remind [this hermit] to glorify God, to adore Him, in every present moment. Plus, the guardian angel is a constant guest trying to protect and guide in temporal matters, yet all according to God's will.  So even difficult phases of life are ordained, and we are guests and yet hosts and hostesses of our guardian angels, if we view it as such from a personal perspective.  But from God's perspective, we are the guests, and the angels a constant messenger inviting us to "Be a guest."

"We cannot expect or even look to other people to be guests, or for them to grasp the concept of being a guest of God's on this earth.  But [this hermit] was told to be a guest,, and it has not much practiced or been a guest.  

"In a current situation [in the hermit's life], am asked to go into civilization and help someone paint woodwork, on the weekend.  Traffic is more then, and thought about going a day earlier.  But a guest would arrive when the hostess asks, or has in mind, not necessarily when the guest decides to arrive.  Of course, we might kindly ask if another time is all right, explaining our reasons.  

"But for the most part, with human hosts and hostesses, we may do well to practice considering them to be as God, as we are told to see God in others.  Still, when and as God is our life's and being's Host, then the stakes are much higher and different than dealing with imperfect humans!  And this must be remembered when we are human hosts to others...."

Thus concludes some of this hermit's thoughts on "Being a guest." Hope you readers ponder aspects and develop your own thoughts on the topic, and that you find "being a guest" a marvelous exercise in spiritual reality and life.

God bless His Real Presence in us!  May we love one another as guests of His Real Presence, as children visiting His Abode for He has come to make His abode in us, and we in Him.