Catholic Hermit: Lent, the Second Scrutiny

Was reminded when subsumed into Mass, during the sermon, about this Lent's Second Scrutiny.  The First Scrutiny a week or so ago, is the digging deeply and unveiling of our personal sins, repentance, and resolve to change out of those sins.  The Second Scrutiny, currently, is to scrutinize our communal and societal sins.  (We can't simply pass the buck to generalized "others" forever!)

I've been wondering about what a hermit (and with increasing back pain and the accompanying nerve pain and muscle weakness when one's spinal cord it being squeezed to not much of a cord) can "do" to change my communal and societal sins for which I am part, and in part responsible.

I can vote, yes--be it federal, state, local, or even home owners' association matters.  I can remain alert to and updated on what is occurring in society and the world.  (For this, a hermit needs some discipline; I'm still working on that aspect--not to spend too much time perusing news online or listening to live stream newscasts.  A brief review of headlines and articles ought suffice, but again, I'm working on this discipline for news nowadays is produced full of viewer "hooks"!  Give the bait and hook us, then reel us in!)

Then I can pray about the situations in the world and community, in the neighborhood, even, within the family--extended and primary and then of the self.

I also considered the comment sections after news articles, and sometimes I leave comments along with many other comments.  I try to leave comments that remind us to pray for the victims, the situations, the circumstances--whatever is impetus for the article in the first place.  I strive to be a voice of reason, peace, love and of Christ.  I'm still working on this aspect, also.

(Regarding my occasional comments, or on the better comments of others, clicking "like"--I had, before reviewing the purpose of the Second Scrutiny, considered my commenting, etc. to be not necessary or a good purpose.  But now I consider that in a very small way, anonymously, I am building up society for good, reminding of prayer and of right versus wrong, as well as to turn our thoughts to God.  I just have to make sure I don't succumb to less-than Godly comments.)

I've considered being at Mass now, as a means of helping uplift the community--the Body of Christ.  I must die to myself to be there, for one thing.  I risk being injured if others try to awaken me from the mystical state; and I risk my own personal embarrassment of whatever it is if someone observes what might seem quite odd, someone immobile and as if deeply asleep during Mass.  However, being there now seems what the Lord has willed through this priest, and when in that deep mystical state, hopefully the prayers of soul with God and whatever bits of temporal thoughts are exchanged, are uplifting souls around me, including my own soul.

Sending texts in response to a couple friends, might be making reparation for communal and societal ills.  Especially can comments address those in bad marriages or struggling with stubborn pride that causes them to, for example, not seek medical attention for treatable conditions that could make others uncomfortable in their presence.  Yet, how much to comment?--that is a necessary question to ask.  Perhaps comment as responding to an article on a communal or societal news article.  Turn the matter to what might be God's view, or at least point to God and the Word, to peace and prayer and love.  And always promise to pray.

Praying is a huge "action" in striving to uplift and build a more holy community and society from one person to millions worldwide.

I also am reminded of a locution I received now 18 or so years ago.  Be a guest.  [For more in depth discussion of "Be a guest" I refer readers to that blog post of  Dec. 18, 2014, although I warn it goes into more detail yet in a stream-of-consciousness style for which I probably need to pray for the grace to improve in succinctness!]

In fact, I'll just post it below--and you can skim or scan or not bother.  I had cut-and-paste from an email I'd sent someone who was having difficulty getting along with people visiting as well as in general, with those around the person in social groups.  While at the time I wrote the thoughts, it was Gaudete Sunday in Advent, perhaps it is as applicable to this Laetare Sunday in Lent!  You probably can get the connection of how we mortals can quite simply and daily improve our community and society and world by the attitude and action of being a guest.  

"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.

Challenge of Living Well a Single Day: Holiness

From The Imitation of Christ: 

 Would that in this world we had lived well throughout one single day. Many count up the years they have spent in religion but find their lives made little holier. 

Rejoicing on this Fourth Sunday in Lent:  Laetere Sunday! Am so thankful for many blessings and lessons learned this Lent.  

While immersing the mind, soul-to-soul with Thomas a Kempis today, the nothing Catholic hermit chuckles at its own years spent as a consecrated hermit as well as the years spent as a Catholic, and the years prior spent as a devout Protestant.  In all, even without counting the years--this soul's life indeed seems less holy than way back in the first years of life!  

It is true, as many spiritual writers--saints or mystics alike--living a long life does not necessarily bring holiness no matter how much a person strives.  The truth they tell, is that a long life brings about additional challenges, not the least of which are increased temptations in daily life.

Yesterday, the nothing Catholic hermit looked forward to getting running water back into the hermitage.  On Friday, it had to shut off the water in order to run some new hot and cold water lines, as well as to re-plumb the kitchen drain pipe under the house, from 1.5" to the now-code 2".

Then a rather costly but worker with muscle strength far more than the hermit, was to come for a marvelous day of focused effort to bring the final five feet or less of 3" main drain pipe under the house, over and down into the main toilet stack that heads on out to the septic tank and drain fields beyond....

He arrived, sure enough, but he was yet again in a non-focused mode, was easily distracted, had not slept well, and admitted to his love of booze.  (The hermit had suspected that in the nearly year of knowing this man, and has great empathy for such a tempting love of drink.)  However, when not much if any progress was made by him in the work efforts, the tenor of the efforts changed. When he made outright errors and became petulant, it was time to accept that the hermit would be without running water for some time longer.

Doing the best in encouraging this worker to focus and to take the high road in the tasks at hand, nothing seemed to jog him in this second work day of little accomplishment and some frustrating mistakes that the hermit will have to correct.  It all seems so needless--these personality issues that we humans bring upon ourselves--drinking too much, staying late at a bar socializing and muddying the mind, expecting hourly pay at a high rate despite the quality of work produced, and blaming one's parents for making a person take college prep classes in high school and saying it turned off the teen to college.  

Is this why the person has no money despite a profession which assures high hourly pay and all the hours a person can possibly work in a day, six days a week (or seven if the person ignores God's request of us for His Sabbath rest)?  Then the fault continues to cause the person to file bankruptcy, to become a self-admitted hoarder, to rent but be facing eviction, to not qualify for a mortgage, to drink away the wages earned, and those not always through diligent work ethics, to put on excessive weight, causing the body to not effectively work hard or long.

Yet, this one is a soul, like all of our souls, dear to God despite the problems.  Granted, the nothing Catholic hermit did become firm--seemingly to a point of what it be horrified if it needed to be spoken to firmly like that.  

[No, we are not going to work upstairs on the PEX plumbing.  I need you to please finish the electrical that has been put off and is your expertise.  No, again, I can do the PEX plumbing.   Why pay a high hourly wage and take time and risk costly errors when I've spent hours studying and learning from plumbers, have it in my head, and can do it? Please, please just do the electrical wiring that is your forte. Let us just stay focused.  No, PLEASE, get your head out from under the sink cabinet.  I am going to cut that stub-out pipe, later.  I had asked you to please remove the unglued drain pipe--not disassemble the entire p-trap.... Again, NO, I said I can cut the pipe tomorrow, and I really need you to finish the electrical.  Yes, that includes putting the wire up into the gable attic area.  No, the stairway does not have to be rebuilt first.  You just drill a 1-inch hole through the attic sub-flooring.  See?  Right up there!  Do you want me to go upstairs and drill the hole?  I will be happy to do it, if it will make it easier for you to see where to run the wire and have it ready for a switch box....]

Well, again, what seems obvious and good work ethic to one, is not to another.  And in "bearing with the faults of others", the "others" is a key concept to grasp.  "Others" includes all of us, even ourselves.  So the nothing Catholic hermit has considered in prayer, in Scripture, and in the silence of the hermitage on this Sunday in Lent (the 63rd of its life on earth--but why keep count?) the times its many faults have been unbearable to some.  It also considers those of its many faults that were somehow bearable to those very holy people who coped with this soul of which God breathed into human form, more than that many years ago.

Yes, if this nothing Catholic hermit could live well through one day--even one hour--then what progress!  But it is not easy.  Why recall the frustrations of the situation yesterday, rather than think on the phenomenal work of Juanito who came unexpectedly, works by the day and put in a ten hours hanging sheetrock?  He installed the heavy stuff meticulously in the living room and lower sitting area.  He lived well yesterday, and in silent diligence.  

We never know what is going on in another person's mind or heart; often we don't, at least accurately, know what is going on in our own.  But silence can sometimes be a good indicator as opposed to loquacity, such as one talkative worker looking for jokes on his iPhone in order to distract the other worker who was working harder, longer, and for less wages.  The ploy did not work.  Juanito kept focused, smiling sweetly, and turning his head...then walking off to get another sheet of drywall from the pole barn.

How many ploys has this nothing Catholic hermit attempted over the days and years in distracting others or itself?  The thought is boggling.  The truth remains that it is quite some feat if one can live a day well.  Only by God's grace can we even make the attempt, or even desire to make the attempt to live well--not just "good enough".   Just to try to remove or even slightly reduce one flaw, such as drinking too much...or being frustrated to a point of lingering upset with someone who slacks on the job.  Only by the grace of God and His mercy can we do it, and then not perfectly for the flaws keep rearing themselves, human temptation after temptation, human imperfection after imperfection.

Why count up the years of being alive, or, for some, the years of being a consecrated Catholic hermit?  This soul has not found the years have made it much holier!  This truth is wondrously amazing and worthy of the rejoicing that crowns this Laetere Sunday of Lent.  Rejoice!  It is not that we should not keep striving for holiness in the years that flow one after another in most of our lives.  It is that we should grasp that the longer we live, the more we grasp that we are imperfect; and the more flaws of various types that we find in others, the more we also can find in ourselves.  Take fault-finding, for starters.

[It is yet prudent for the hermit to read that book on electrical wiring, for God's money gifted to the hermit by its late parents is hemorrhaging profusely.  Learn how to wire the switches and sockets into their boxes.  Learn that it is not particularly thrilling, and understand the temptation to electrician burn-out when one is older, trapped by human flaws, and  with no other career options easily at hand.  All the same, why put oneself in the temptation of being frustrated, or put another into temptation to slack on the job and yet demand full wages?  God will guide in this situation, as He does in all if we seek, ask, listen to, and accept His Providence.]

God bless His Real Presence in us!  Little children, let us love one another, for God Is Love!  Remain in His Love!