Seeing Our Own Shadows

By -
My brother sent me a gift today- wrapped in timeless words of wisdom. "...The rock of my strength and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times...pour out your heart before him, God is a refuge in us."


My brother knows trouble is swirling around me-testing me, taunting me, telling me that I am in for another challenging conflict. But, this time 'round I'm turning the other cheek. Walking away from the old pitfalls that pulled me into the endless struggles between competing polarities....My old perception that every conflict turns into combat- kept me narrow minded and closed to the unlimited possibilities for personal growth. Imagine making friends instead of enemies by simply taking responsibility for our own lives instead of focusing on fear, hate or retribution.

Since I've been there and done that...more times than I care to count...I've learned that sometimes when we blame others for our problems--rather than trying to find positive solutions-we are actually seeing our own shadow...What we dislike in others, we are carrying inside ourselves. It makes more sense to pause and ask ourselves what is really going on. What is it that we really fear or dislike? When we put as much energy and effort into improving our own weaknesses we become more centered in the moment...with less baggage from the past...less angry and judgmental...We're able to face conflicts with wisdom and detachment...and through conflict, learn to see more clearly. There is a natural, affirming power that follows- promoting greater peace within...and externally among those around us and we make healthier choices to conflict resolution that do not include combat.

So, as the storm swirls around me-over the next few weeks, I will try very hard to stop the blaming game, to clearly see myself -to see how my own shadows- may be casting conflict and blocking the light of peaceful resolution from shining forth. If I can do that, I trust that God will guide me rain or shine, to the peaceful calm that comes after every storm.

"There is no greater disaster
Than enemy-making.
For then you lose your treasure,
Your peace.
When conflict arises,
Compassion always prevails."
(Tao Te Ching 69)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SUBLIME AUDACITY!

By -
Image
I have all the signs and symptoms of something I just learned about today...Sublime Audacity. That's right...I have the audacity to believe-that anything is possible-anything at all-with God. In fact, I believe that there is one cure for all the world's ills...and that cure rests with -and in God. In a world of material wealth, individual desires and carefully orchestrated managed care...When people search the world over for the answers that never come, the healings that rarely happen and the hope that always gets dashed by the next person...I believe that there is only one steady stream of consciousness that always gets it right...and that is God. I've personally experienced it time and again and every time I look elsewhere or seek some other solution, I always come crawling back to the staying power of my higher power...Because let's face it...Once we have the audacity to tell anyone-anyone at all that God is responsible for all the good in our lives or the Love that ...
Read more

OUR LADY OF JOY, HANCEVILLE ALABAMA

By -
Image
High atop a hill in Hanceville Alabama, broken hearts are being healed and hope is being restored. Our Lady of Joyful Hope is a community of young men who are finding new freedom through a life of authentic truth. Once lost in the darkness of addiction they are now living in the light of Christ who is transforming them from the inside out...And their families, if they are open and willing, are being transformed right alongside them. Recently, I spent three days with this community, listening to the young men, their parents and to the foundress, Mother Elvira, who flew in from Italy for the anointing of the new community house and the celebration that followed. Mother Elvira's life story is on par with Mother Teresa. She is an Italian nun who heard the call from God to snatch souls from Satan by delivering young men and women from the demonic grip of addiction. She gave up everything familiar, walked straight into the wilderness and wound up becoming a living legacy for desperate fa...
Read more

CONFESSIONS OF FATHER JOE BENSON

By -
As we sat in silence, meditating...I nudged my friend Terri, "What do we have to complain about?!" I whispered. There he hung, pain stricken, vulnerable in his nakedness, sharp thorns cutting into his head, pleading eyes fixed on the heavens. What I thought, on God's green earth, do I have to complain about?! That's probably why they do it...place the life like crucifix dead center-above the altar, just above the Blessed Sacrament, right where you can't miss it...just to remind us-things could be worse, but they're destined to get better-if we keep our eyes focused-on the solution. Another friend-likes to remind me-he's not on the cross anymore...So why do we keep him there? Every one's got an opinion, but to tell you the truth, I need to be reminded of the sacrifice...and every painful moment in between. Puts my problems in perspective...helps me see clearly...gives me strength to proceed. We went to first Friday adoration in the upper ninth ward.....
Read more