I am not sure why we develop bad habits but I have one that is interfering with my life. I constantly put myself down. The Devil doesn't even have to work on me. I do his job for him (as C.S. Lewis would say). Fr. Jonathan Morris, in his book The Promise, offers the following as a potential solution and I am trying it now. He suggests that you try to remember the event that created this attitude in yourself. What was the one thing that started you down this road? He suggests that we remember not to institutionalize it in our minds but to reevaluate it as an adult and probably see how insignificant or inaccurate it was in the first place. Why have we let this event come to define who we are now? Perhaps we can then realize the blessings that God has bestowed on us. I am also trying another activity. Each time I begin to wrestle in my mind about my self worth, I am going to stop and think of a blessing God has provided. I am going to then thank him for that blessing. It is the whole "garbage in, garbage out" concept in reverse. I am going to chase the garbage out with goodness from God. I have a big opportunity this coming Monday. I prayed for God to open a door and he has. Now I need to walk through it and continue my journey. I ask for prayers from you. Give me words to speak Lord.
I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
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