In Waiting Preparation of New Direction

This is the third day in the waiting.  I'm being prepared and am preparing for the New Direction.  An adaptation, this; I am used to coming here to write of whatever lessons being learned, insights received, application of graces of learning from the Lord and the Lord in and through others--applying to daily life of the inner and outer.

A cousin called this morning.  I mentioned to her some of what I'm benefitting in listening and learning from a marvelous scholar and theologian who is also very "grounded" and with good sense of humor. I'm being opened up to my purpose and mission, while at the same time I wrote a couple emails, one in answering someone's question, but in which I went into critical analysis mode which helps me understand and have compassion, but the words can seem and perhaps are, harsh and even cutting in the critique.  

Has to do with how I can now see more clearly the deeper aspects, and of the trinitarian parts of most all systems and structures, including a tripartite reality of each and every person and the balance that is best for health and successful preparing for God's coming into us and us going into God--increasingly frequently, longer periods of earth time, or for some brief glimpses and effects of God within and without, in our lived lives.

The Mass Gospel from yesterday I will cut-and-paste in here for my body needs to get out of bed and attempt some physical, manual labor even if for an hour of something not too bodily difficult.  But until Pentecost, a week from tomorrow, in the actuality of the spiritual preparation the Lord is providing, the Holy Spirit enacting within body, mind, heart, and soul--it is as if in God's waiting room.  While waiting, much is being given, received, and also much praise of God in appreciation for the slow impartation and development of what will be the actual New Direction once it becomes not new and not direction, but arrived-at place that will evolve within that direction but not as a destination for alteration.  The transformation by God is on-going; the Holy Spirit directs as the love of the Father and the Son.

This waiting period could be painful, but thus far it is not other than in the temporal bodily aspects of the consistently higher level of physical pain.  But even that is for good purpose in the preparation involved in any New Direction that we all experience periodically in our lives if we are aware of our ever-seeking God.  Being in bed quite a bit, from pain precluding my being up and distracting with manual labor--this, too, has beautiful purpose and meaningful necessity in the preparation.

The following Gospel as well as the citation from letter to monks by John of Karpathos, gives hope in God while in the waiting between one's ascension with Christ and the coming gift of the Holy Spirit.  Just eight more days, here, that will be filled with whatever necessary for what God desires and wills, until the Holy Spirit imparts.  I've left the one world and await the next, so to speak.  No coincidence that this is occurring in alignment with the Church's liturgical Easter Season, the Ascension of our Lord, and the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, Sunday next.  Wait...and see, and embrace the experience of the Holy Spirit!  No idea what, but faith and assurance there is and will be. 

Love God in Three Persons!

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 16,20-23a.

Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world.So you also are now in anguish. But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.On that day you will not question me about anything. Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."

John of Karpathos (VII century)

monk and bishop

Letters to the monks in India (Philokalia; trans. G.E.H. Palmer, Philip Sherrard, Kallistos Ware, p. 322-323)

"Your affliction will be turned to joy" (Jn 16:20)

"What is gained," it is asked, "when we suffer affliction in soul and body, always praying and singing psalms? Do not those who neither pray nor keep vigil enjoy happiness and success throughout their lives?" Again they complain: "Behold, the houses of others are built up and we call others blessed"; and the Prophet adds: "And servants of God who were not ignorant said these things" (cf. Mal 3:15-16 LXX). Yet we should not think it strange that they endure affliction and various forms of sorrow, patiently awaiting through many trials and temptations whatever their Master gives. For they have heard him say in the Gospels: "Truly I tell you, that you who are near me shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice" (Jn 16:20)

Yet after a little while I will visit you through the Paraclete and drive away your despondency; I will renew you with thoughts of heavenly life and peace and with sweet tears, of all of which you were deprived for a short time when you were being tested. I will give you the breast of my grace, as a mother feeds her baby when it cries.

When your strength fails in battle I will fortify you with power from on high, and I will sweeten you in your bitterness, as Jeremiah says in his Lamentations, speaking of the Jerusalem hidden within you. I will look upon you and your hearts will rejoice at my secret visitation; your affliction will be turned to joy, and no one shall take that joy from you (cf. Jn 16:20-22).

Catholic Hermit Post Pentecost

I've not been able to write much lately due to over-use of right arm from shoulder through fingers.  Have Carpenter's Elbow, and two previous shoulder surgeries are also involved with numbness down the arm, plus a past "drill whip" injury of my thumb adds to the issue.

So yesterday was Pentecost, and gloriously so.  Now today, with Pentecost past, the soul is rejoicing with the Holy Spirit being given to all of us who believe as the Body of Christ.  Blessed and grateful!

Every now and then in the work here, I call out aloud:  Jesus!  You were a carpenter!  Thus was the case Friday morning when the man from the parish (who along with his wife bring me Communion on Sundays) came to help me install the stair stringer boards.  He returned Saturday to help adjust the center stringer board.  Definitely, building a staircase is a two-person job when it comes to the critical part of hanging the stringer boards, securing them and making sure they are level.

Then there has been the massive weeding, for working on the interior had the exterior be put off.  And there is a raccoon problem now, with two having stalked this nothing consecrated Catholic hermit to an extreme point of becoming bizarre.  So means will have to be taken to trap and remove the coons who have become aggressive.  It is a shame that some feed them, most likely for the human's enjoyment of doing so.  It is unfair to the undomesticated creatures who then become dangerous menaces and are over-populated.

Have sold several trees which helps pay some bills and clears the over-crowding of these, too, for they love this soil and climate, for sure.  What were slow-growers have become rapid-risers.

And so I wish and pray for our souls, to become rapid risers, now reminded of the great indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  How do we deserve such a gift from God?  It is only because He loves us without measure; He loves us as His children and loves with much mercy.

I've had some questions asked via emails, and I've tried to answer briefly with the arm situation as it is--most difficult to type.  The topics--questions asked--are of interest, perhaps, to you blog readers.  So when my pained and numb arm and hands are improved, I will share and write my thoughts.

Have many prayer concerns given, and thankfully praying is not affected by any ailments or injuries of body!

God bless His Real Presence in us, and thanks be to God the Father, the Son, and the HOLY SPIRIT!

Mark Knopfler,Chet Atkins,The Everly Brothers-Why Worry

On this day of Pentecost, have been asking the Holy Spirit to give the graces necessary to endure with faith.  This includes in very practical ways, such as managing the additional pain in the upper back and right shoulder muscles, and trying to keep working to whatever degree in making progress on the hermitage.  Somehow, this challenge is huge--and the praying imbeds in the efforts of body and mind, in attitude and spirit.

This song has been singing within while out in the back garden and orchard area, doing what little can be done using the right arm gingerly and with numerous ice pack breaks.  The mind has been worrying.  Is this what God wills and desires of this hermit?  The concerns arise, for it can be a battle of attitude and mind to make the body get up and begin whatever work project it can do.  The finances are a concern.  Raphael's not returning calls of which messages are left, asking if he will come and finish siding and porch, and help hang drywall.  

When the pain increases, the concerns rise, as well.  Should the hermit try to bail out now?  A relative and friend emailed, mentioning this, and expressing their thoughts that the body is trying to tell the hermit something, and that one needs to accept aging process.  Yet neither have seen the progress, nor do they realize the dire financial situation.  But also, they each have spouses and health and income and retirement pensions and savings, and houses paid for, and livable conditions.

Then the hermit considered they do not realize what it is like to have been rooked by some people in the purchase process, and that there really was no way out that is prudent, other than to try to work one's way out.  Fr. Vincent emailed conviction that the various concerns are going to pass, and that the main consideration is to persevere in faith, no matter what.

Yes, the hermit will try.  It did get up, got dressed, tried to stretch the upper back, used ice, headed out, and started to use the shovel and pruners, and the watering hose.  The efforts were modest; but they were efforts.  The hermit prayed the Lord's prayer, some Hail Mary's, the Glory Be while watering.  The hermit put its head down, and simply and sincerely asked Jesus to help to discern God's will.

And music of the song played in the head, and the words came to mind, and the Holy Spirit sang the beautiful tune, played the lovely instruments, offered the words to His beloved child. And the hermit child responded, "Thy will be done."  If the body goes completely, then that will be that.  But to wonder if every set back (crows have been plucking out the snow pea and cantaloupe seedlings and some other pest eating the strawberries, and rain not in the forecast!) is God saying time to give up, or the devil trying to create upset and worry--no.  Stop the back-and-forth.  

Why worry?  The Holy Spirit is here, now, within, a gift ever present.  The situation will unfold as God wills, by and by.  Why worry now?