CWRjr

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  • Each Hour a Miracle
  • Posted by CWRjr on May 22, 2022 at 11:51 am in reply to: Sunday May 22: Receive the Holy Spirit #124398

    Blessed Day,

    My journey has evolved into a personalized Lord’s Prayer and several phrases, including: Holy, Holy Holy!; The Divine Three are near, with and in me; Come God with grace and awaken the Spirit followed by Come God with grace and speak through me spirit and lastly, Love flows in and love flows out.

    Repeating these at various points in the day remind me of thee Divine Three’s Presence, the power of grace and its influence one my daily practices. For years now, this has been grounded in trying to practice the Fruits of the Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, trust, goodness and self-control to which I have added … forgiveness and generosity. If only saying them thoughtfully helped me improve my daily practice and without grace I have no chance.

    May you heart be open and may you know the Spirit’s presence.

    Carl

    Posted by CWRjr on March 14, 2021 at 12:26 pm in reply to: Sunday March 14: Opening our Eyes #113129

    This week I learned about Circle of Trust retreats based on the work of Parker Palmer, who I read and follow often. One of the Circle of Trust’s touchstones is, “no fixing, saving, advising, or correcting.” As I assume most of us know, this mantra is much easier to say than to practice.  I wonder if we begin to accept this thought into our hearts, will our light increase and our judgements lessen? Will it increase the love for ourselves and, in turn, improve our relationships?

    I may add this to my Lenten practices.

    Blessings on your journey / Carl

    Posted by CWRjr on February 14, 2021 at 1:42 pm in reply to: Sunday February 14: Touches of The Spirit #112546

    With time, some faithfulness and the Spirit’s grace, I have slowly evolved into a more present, compassionate and empathetic person.  At least I hope people in my life would agree to some extent.  I have never focused on the word ‘purify’, especially as it relates to me, but I hope Christ’s finger removes my impatience, dampens down my ego, the need for recognition and affirmation and places me more and more I a sense of equanimity.  Can I get to a place that ‘I do’, because it is the good use of time and talent and leave behind responses of others?

    Prayer, centering prayer, mindfulness all open me to the present moment, the glorious moment and God is there to find and asking me to practice the fruits of the Spirit.

    Posted by CWRjr on February 7, 2021 at 4:42 pm in reply to: Sunday February 7: Let Us Go … #111735

    The poem gives me new energy this morning.  There is a glorious snowfall.  I think I will take a walk.  I did the same a week ago and I was struck by the thought that the snow on the limbs and branches of the trees was really a tangible witness to God’s love and the Spirit’s grace.  I wonder what I will see today?  Maybe all the bare branches will be open and lifting up in prayer to the Creator.

    It is only of late after some 35 + years that I have realized that my commitment to the Cystic Fibrosis community was indeed personally transforming. You see, our son has CF and I considered everything I did as ‘personal’.  Of late, I have accepted it as a community ministry.  Slowly, I am leaving the ego, the competitiveness and the need for personal affirmation aside.  Maybe, I will write about all the impact on me, my wife, our family and of course, our son.  He has become my role model.

    Posted by CWRjr on November 29, 2020 at 1:03 pm in reply to: Sunday November 29: In A Garment of Silence #110109

    This year the Advent Wreath sits around a Christmas cactus yet to bloom.  It will, in due course.  Who knows, maybe the warmth of the candle light will accelerate it.

    As I begin this season, my current thought is to retain my prayer mantras as they are slowly becoming more and more invasive … a part of me off and on throughout the day.  Simply, they are YOU ARE!, which reminds me that the Divine Three are near, with and in me; Open My Heart, so I am more emotionally present and Love Flows (in and out) so I am aware of the Spirit’s grace and my role to bring it into the world.

    This season, may you find quiet and know God’s presence, Christ’s healing powers and the Spirit’s grace.

    Posted by CWRjr on November 22, 2020 at 1:14 pm in reply to: Sunday November 22: Whatever You Did, You Did To Me #109963

    Prayer has not changed the people who come into my life as much as it has transformed the way I act toward and with them. The phrase, “Thy kingdom come”, in Our Lord’s Prayer is now a realization that it comes in every moment and I should try and co-create with the One who created Love. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit as written by Paul to the Galatians are values along with generosity and forgiveness that I try, failing often, to practice.  I have two mantras.  “You Are!” reinforces that the Divine Three are near, with and in me.  “Love Flows!” reminds me that the Spirit’s Grace flows in me and it can, if I keep my heart open, flow out of me.

    In gratitude and loving kindness.

    Posted by CWRjr on August 23, 2020 at 1:06 pm in reply to: Sunday August 23: Who Do You Say That You Are? #107933

    When I celebrated 65 years old, seven years ago, my family gave me a large wall hanging that offered 65 different reasons why they loved me.  Needless to say, I treasure it as the most concise example of “Who I am” by ones who I love dearly.

    Who am I?  As I prepare to turn 72, I am husband, father, grandfather and friend.  To bring the ‘kingdom of God’ into the world each day, I cannot detach myself from those roles.  It is for them and for all living beings that I attempt to practice the two great commandments and the gift of the Holy Spirit — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, to which I also add forgiveness and generosity.  Maybe the more succinct answer is that God is Love and I am blessed that it flows through me.

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