SUFFERING...GOD'S WILL, GOD'S WAY

..... it’s only through seeing God in our suffering that we can truly be free from the fear that causes us to choose ways of being that are not loving. -- Brian McLaren, "Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation," January 5, 2026

Well, there it is...the good news and the bad news as one. Suffering is not to be avoided, but it can't be self-invited either. 

Suffering needs a book all to itself. Oh, maybe that's what the Bible is...not being a Bible reader, I'm on shaky ground there. 

I quote passages from the Bible that speak to me, and there are many that do. I only inner trust the King James version, however, and truth to tell, it is virtually unreadable by me. Over the years, I've made my peace with that.

As to McLaren's quote, that is a good example of Truth speaking to my brain, my heart and my soul...all the while my egoic self is backing away from it. Face it, suffering does not come on a welcome mat.

There's the gift of sticking with still more spiritual growth...the longer we seek it, the harder the reasoning mind works to block our understanding it.... according to me.

In our material world we must trust our reasoning mind, but in our raised consciousness, we must go beyond reason to love. 

Thank you. 

SPIRITUAL GROWTH...LOVE AND LAUGH A LOT

Lest I forget: For 2026: Father Richard encourages us to find the wisdom revealed in the paradoxical nature of reality.

I'm taken by the deep meaning of Father Richard's encouraging words, to find the wisdom in the paradoxical nature of reality.

In general, I "find the wisdom" as I come to it...the wisdom finds me, in effect. There have been more than a few times when I've had to ponder, seriously study, some wisdom that I've read or heard of. But that just proves that the wisdom finds me...my way opens me as I come to Truth.

Today, I usually know where it is leading me, but back in the day, like other spiritually seeking beginners. I had to ponder hard just to let go of my own ideas of Truth, of God's will, God's way.

That tells the story of my still more spiritual growth. I started out wanting to believe...which was God's gift, not a self-determined objective. As my spiritual growth deepened, my want-to increased...again, God's will, God's way.

I am oh so grateful that I do seek the wisdom revealed in the paradoxical nature of reality. Honestly, it never would have occurred to me to see it that way. yet that puts a purer dimension to it.

My way is simply knowing that I seek still more spiritual growth...which requires getting over myself fairly regularly.

There it is another pearl beyond price: Today I love and laugh a lot.

God is so good to us...for us.

Thank you.

UNPROTECTED...SUSTAINED...LOVED

God sustains us in all things while protecting us from nothing. -- James Finley 

One of the surprising blessings in my life is turning 80 and finding a higher level of joy here. 

Few people I know...certainly not I...look forward to old age, and face it, when one reaches 80, one reaches old age. Like most of God's will for us, acceptance of life as it lands on us is the path to peace.

I used to pray for peace of mind all the while worrying about whatever crossed my unpeaced mind. Then...ah, then...I was gifted with the power of peace in thank You.

Whatever comes to our conscious mind, comes with and in spite of God's will, God's way...in particular the self-determined objectives that more often than not leave us feeling sick, sad and/or sorry. But what better way for miracles to come to be?  

That's my personal knowledge of faith...not knowing what the next minute will bring yet living the peace of welcome in my heart. 

To clarify...that's my personal eyebrows-up knowledge of faith. I achieve it as God wills...not nearly as often as I want because, of course, my will keeps pushing ahead. 

Again, I am reminded: Everything happens by invitation only.

And again: God sustains us in all things while protecting us from nothing. 

Thank you.

HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IS SCARY, TOO

Lord, hear my prayer: Thank You.

I want to do nothing...nada...right now because I'm feeling fear.... dread.... unsure... brackish. And where did that word brackish come from? Though I must admit, it fits.

Today is Sunday so, actually, today I need do none of the things I am dreading... most all having to do with my car.

I suspect that my fear is based in the fact that I'm going to need to turn this car in sooner rather than later because of my failing eyesight.

Giving up driving...ah, is giving up my condo right behind? Moving into assisted living? I feel nothing about that, which is a sure indicator that fear is silently riding herd.

I feel dread...and who's kidding whom? Dread is just a cover-up word for fear...it stays the panic straining to get out.

This I know, and it is from personal experience that I know: No matter what I feel, think, do or say, i.e., fear....I am on the right track heading in the right direction...toward still more spiritual growth.

Lord, hear my prayer: Thank You.

Thank you.

ACCEPTING FEAR AS A FRIEND

Blinding flash of the obvious: Nothing turns us to God faster than fear.

Ah, fear then can be a friend to those who believe.

Comes now the understanding that all things work together for good...for those who believe.

Face it, when we're not feeling it, peace, love and joy require that we change our mind. And a whole new block confronts us...we finally accept that we cannot change our mind when we are convinced that we are right. 

There it is... the door to a deeper level of learning opens, and acceptance sweeps in: Acceptance that only God can change our fixed mind. The door to a deeper level of learning opens, and still more spiritual growth is its golden key. 

We are well on the road to freedom from self. Note...it's a long and rugged road, but we never walk it alone. Thank You, Father.

Thank you.

MICROSOFT...OUR NEW TEACHER

The best criticism of the bad is the practice of the good. -- Fr Richard Rohr 

Microsoft has again "improved" their system leaving that which users get to deal with. 

What a crock. 

According to me, all that their "improvements" do is require us to continuously contact them (and no doubt get charged) to question what/how/why we need to be reeducated in the use of the product they sold us originally (less than a few years ago it feels like).

I've decided to give a new way a try: To go with all the changes...to resist not.

Uh-oh! This is not new! 

This is what I've been consciously trying to use in and for my still more spiritual growth for ever so long.

In this new year 2026 I am gifted with a new same-old-same-old. We are not given something new, we are given the original to view and learn from anew...from a different angle so to speak. That's Education 101, subtitled quit your bitchin' and lean into learning.

 

God loves us so much.

Thank you.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH IS A PARADOXICAL GIFT

Father Richard encourages us to find the wisdom revealed in the paradoxical nature of reality. -- "Fr Richard Rohr Daily Meditation"

Paradox - a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.

As I look back over the past 50+ years of my life, I am convinced again that paradox is spiritual growth and is precisely how God's word grows us.

If we can explain it by "thinking it over," we're going down that wrong road again.

My life's truth is not explainable...it is an inner knowing. That has ever been the rugged road to faith without borders for me.

A throw-away truism: We can't work for it, but we can't get it without working for it.

Thank you.