finally, i'm back and let me pour out-

let me begin by reflecting on the Gospel for today that says, when you pray for answers to a challenge that presents itself in life, just wait... for the answer will surely come.

I was surprised as I read today’s Readings and some more confirmation answering my unending questions lately.

Lately, I’d been feeling slighted on a certain matter; and all of life was feeling unfair. Why is it we start discounting ourselves when life gives us a blow?....

Lately, i was feeling so down and low and somewhat lost, and indeed, I have spent many hours in prayer. What was my next step?...

My centering prayer practice has taught me to pause in any given situation. Also, the prayer develops the practice of letting go, but still I would find myself reaching back and grabbing ahold of the feelings of pain and hurt again...

I was reading my "God Calling" book and finding some resolutions. But, trust is such a big step for such a little word. I’m paraphrasing, but I read, Trust God, and don’t feel defeated....

Know that I am strong because God is strong. That helps for sure, I thought. Strong enough to shield myself from the pain that was holding me....

God won’t give me anything more than I can handle. And, then I sat down to read and reflect on the readings for today, and I kept seeing confirmation upon confirmation, and immediately I thought, "okay I guess you do have to hit me over the head".

How many times do we fall short of displaying the mark of a Christian, or as we are referred to in Paul’s Letter to the Colossians, “God’s chosen ones”?

The more you are impacted by another, the harder it is to “put on” that virtue described in today’s readings. But, Luke’s Gospel goes even further, and reminds us it is not hard to act like a Christian when the going is easy. And you think, how many times have I read this reading?

But, yes, I can now relate, because when you lose someone who is very dear to you, something in you, a part of you, is lost, too and it is very hard to do the Christian thing;... to let go.

So, today I am being invited, we are all invited to look at the list of virtues and personalize the attribute. Can we apply these traits even when it is hard to do?...

Me, I have to keep praying for God’s strength to follow through with that which I know is the right thing to do with my situation.

More confirmation fueling my thoughts, a little less confusion; what more do I have to hear? Even still, I sit with some reluctance, but I have hope that I can and will do the right thing.....to let go and move on!

i also wish to thank the following dear friends (online and in real life) for the gift of time spent with me, for consolation, sympathy and friendship... for without you, such difficult things and events could have been so horribly hard, heavy and tough for me... becca , ironnie , jeprocks , sasha , brvinceceleste , wendy and karen