EVERYTHING SHOWS ITSELF IN DISGUISE

Once our reasoning mind has been exchanged  for the spiritual, it is interesting to note how often we are given the opportunity to do the new.  

My opportunity to trust the new: I go to the funeral of a beloved friend today. I go with trepidation for I am a crier, and it is hard to mentally thank God for his will being done while my fear is saying just don't let it be me making like a banshee. 

In the meantime, I prepare: I have long believed in the spiritual power of paradox where everything shows itself to be a disguise: weakness is really strength, wisdom is really foolishness, death is really life, matter is really spirit, religion is often slavery, and sin itself is actually the trapdoor into salvation. (Description from Fr Richard Rohr's 12/14/13 lesson on the mirror vision of Saint Paul.)

Admittedly, that is light years from my walking-around world today, but there it is...my spiritual goal. 

When it came to me that the Sermon on the Mount can be lived comfortably (without conscious will or gritted teeth) only by knowing everything shows itself to be a disguise, was I opened to its truth. 

Probably everyone has experienced the phenomenon of the proverbial blessing in disguise...as in, something we feared happening, happens and turns out to be our pearl beyond price. We tend to think of that as a one-shot deal...a coincidence. 

The question is: Why is a coincidence easier to hold to than is a Power for Good intervening in our life in our benefit? 

The answer is not easily assessible since it is not our reasoning mind's question. We must go beyond reason...to love. 

So I go to pay my respects for my beloved friend's life. I mentally hug her and kiss her and let her go...with love and possibly tears. Your call, God, knock yourself out. 

Thank you.