Today's Reading: Trust me

"Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord.... Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord....More tortuous than all else is the human heart, beyond remedy; who can understand it?  I, the Lord, alone probe the mind and test the heart, To reward everyone according to his ways, according to the merit of his deeds."  (Jer. 17: 5-10)

[note: the ellipses are examples as to what such a person is like].

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5)

G-d knows our hearts and understands us better than we even understand ourselves.  We must trust in Her to fill our hearts with His love and to guide us. 

"Trust me," She says, "It'll be awesome!"

a thought

Had a wonderful time walking and talking with a friend yesterday. Something to mention from that discussion.

Simple and easy:
It is far simpler to have 2 concepts (love God, love your neighbor) than a bookcase full of canon law. 
It is far easier to have a raft of specific do's and don'ts than a few overarching tenets which each person must interpret for themselves.

We were never called to do what is easy, but rather what is right.  It's just that simple.

Trolls and talking amphibians

Thank you, Admiral.  We know.

I know that my blogging has been cut back recently, and the reason is due to Lent. 

Long ago, I was taught that where the mind focuses, your energy goes and that energy is what helps create what is. I have recently had several experiences which have driven the validity of this teaching home, so my Lenten journey this year is to focus my mind on the core teachings of Christ.

So....looking at the news and blogosphere, there is a tremendous amount of  mental focus and energy being poured into things which appear to be downright destructive (at worst) to having no benefit (at best).

The causative agent is, predictably, a  public figure, 'entertainer' or prelate making outlandish claims or backing outrageous positions and watching the hornets nest get all stirred up.  Of course, the idea behind making outlandish claims and backing outrageous positions is just that...to get people outraged.  It breathes life into an otherwise lifeless cause and helps draw battle-lines and muster troops for a fight that only those sounding their clarion call will win.  In short, the people at the center are playing as trolls and their shrill screams are a trap.

Don't do it.  Don't feed the trolls and don't fall for the trap.

If we are called to love the Divine and our neighbours, then focus your mind towards that.  I am not suggesting that we, individually or collectively, become disinterested and disengage entirely.  Not at all.  Instead, we need to keep focused on loving others and honouring G-d and mud'rasslin a pig (metaphorically speaking) will do neither.  

Before you post or holler or protest, answer yourself honestly: Does what I am to do or say help create the Kingdom of God or does it feed the trolls?  Will my actions be unitive or divisive?