There is a story about St. Francis being asked how can we find perfect joy. Francis's answer was that even if we were perfect in our holiness and could work all kinds of miracles we would not have perfect joy. This goes on with the questioner continuing to question, "Then how?" and Francis continuing to give variations on the same answer.
Finally, Francis says, "Suppose we go to a monastery and tell the gatekeeper how weary and cold we are, and he calls us tramps and beats us and throws us out into the winter night. Then, if we can say with love in our hearts, 'Bless you in God's name,' then we shall have found perfect joy."
I love this story. I love it because it gives me something to aim for with my petty (even to my own self) peeves...my ego-victory resistance to the slights and snubs of daily life, real and imagined. For I know it to be true from my own very limited experience.
When my mind is freed of my own hurt, anger, righteous indignation at the treatment I received five minutes ago or fifty-five years ago, blame falls away. I am gifted with the feeling of inner joy unlike any other feeling. The minute my mind is freed from blame, my heart and my soul lighten up...shout...sing...turn cartwheels...skip...dance.
All in the name of God...without conscious thought.
Thank You.
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