ON TAKING NOTHING PERSONALLY

In reading again Fr Richard Rohr's statement, if we are not transformed by our pain, we will almost certainly transmit it to those around us, it occurs that "our pain" is not just the searing, life-changing pain we encounter if we're doing it right. No, "our pain" is also...and usually...our resistance to the daily irritants of life.

We all know them...the incoming idle remark we take as a direct insult, the careless glance that we interpret as a contemptuous glare.

I'm convinced the daily irritants of life are those things we take personally that have no meaningful reason to even be considered by us...even if the idle remark was indeed a direct insult. If it's not true...or even if it IS...picking it up to throw it back, harder, makes it our very own, gives us ownership. We can make a career out of wallowing in that...just trying mentally to get rid of it.

In my Sermon study this morning, at Matthew 5:33-37, the instruction is: Do not swear at all...Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. I realized that this is a for sure way to resist not. A "yes" or a "no" without judgment or justification? Hmmm, might be worth trying...to see where I'd be led. Probably need to make some listening noises just to maintain a sociable conversation. Chances are I'd last one conversation, then feel the need to go back and explain. But why would that matter? 

Trying to follow the Sermon's instructions, trusting the God of my understanding to walk me through, cannot be a bad thing even if I fail...I'd fail in the right direction, going with the spiritual mind rather than the reasoning mind. 

I'll go with it if you're good with it, God...Thy will, not mine. 

Thank you.