EITHER WAY, GOD HAS OUR BACK

My most vigilant spiritual practice is finding the seconds of solitude to get quiet enough to hear the Wise Woman in me. She helps me show up to the labor as my best self. The voices we spend the most time listening to, in the world and inside our own minds, shape the way we see, how we feel, and what we do. -- Fr Richard Rohr, "Daily Meditation," August 25, 2020

The thought occurs, with all the alone time this pandemic affords me, why am I not hearing "the Wise Woman," for me, my BFOs, a lot more often than I am? 

The answer undoubtedly is: First, "get quiet." We choose the voices we spend the most time listening to...it is our choice, it is not God's will, or evil, or Joe Blank the Ragman choosing for us or against us. It is me using my free will...that which I so earnestly say I desire to return to God in exchange for his will.

Ah, here's the conundrum, or the paradox if you will. All the "doing it wrong" to our reasoning mind is God's way for us to get righted. The wrong we do that feels like a thorn in our thoughts is God turning us around...unselfing us. And it takes as long as it takes. 

I know, from experience, that to self-will my turn around is to keep heading down that wrong road. For who gets quiet and seeks to hear our Father's voice when we know what he's going to say? Love your enemy, let 'em slap you upside your head, yadda yadda yadda...so just act as if and get it over with. Or, self-will meet brick wall. Did I mention, I know this from experience? Enough said.

At any rate, I find that it is by coming to my full reckoning, acceptance, of this Wrong-Way Corrigan approach that I am calmed...I've given over, given up, given in. 

Best for last...I may be getting a new dog. All my troubles, Lord, soon be over. Or, all my troubles, Lord, just got a new suit of clothes. Either way, God has my back. 

Thank you.