Authentic and Known

                 Congratulations, you get a bonus reflection this week!

                I really enjoy researching and reflecting on “holy words” like love and humility.  Another word that I recently found intriguing, came from within the word humility, and that is authenticity.

                I picked up a new book for spiritual reading that I was not too familiar with, though I know who the author is.  It is called Chasing Humility by Joel Stepanek. I just finished the first chapter, and boy is it insightful!  With my own journey of recovering from depression and anxiety, I was engrossed by the way he spoke of authenticity.  It is not about trying to be admired and accepted by others, such as living a “double life” with different sets of peers.  It’s about being how God sees us. 

                I’m still in the works of finding authenticity, acclaimed in other religious resources.  In fact, I believe it is something repeatedly sought after, throughout one’s life.  As Joel Stepanek writes, sometimes it looks like people have it all together.  They only show themselves as happy people, shying away from appearing with faults or the slightest mistakes.  But is it not human to have both good and bad days?  Weaknesses and strengths?  Lessons learned?  As followers of Jesus Christ, there is that sense of on-going discovery. 

                Who am I called to be, and am I living up to it? 

                Prior to and while having an anxiety disorder, I have had big dreams for myself.  Some of them I have already been able to accomplish.  Going to a World Youth Day, visiting the grotto at Lourdes, entering a cloistered monastery….  Even something as simple as running down a hill is self-fulfilling!  These are wonderful interests I find joy in, though there have been a lot of realizations of going after what God wants me to do with my life. No, I did not spend the rest of my days in a cloistered monastery, but I am now happy with my boyfriend.  Sure, my depression can make life feel blah, but I learn to focus on what can distract me from those melancholy days.  My anxiety often makes me fall short of my potential, but that does not make me less faithful to my Lord and God.  Yes, I love volunteering, but what about trying out for an internship in my ideal field of work?  What about getting that novel published?  What about getting past the camera and actually giving talks before a live audience again? 

                Amidst all of this soul searching, guess what I came to realize?  God wants us to be happy!  So yes we can celebrate our accomplishments, and we can look at what we can do for God now.

                What I am telling you, I am also telling myself: never let yourself fall short of living out an authentic, Jesus-loving lifestyle.  And keeping learning!  I am sure I have a lot more to learn myself, about this ever-true way of life, as I continue to explore the meaning of authenticity.  And, as St. Francis de Sales once said: Be who you are, and be that perfectly well!

Word (and Lesson) for the Week

                Hi there!  I took a little more time than usual to study up on the chosen Word for the Week, and that is Hope.

                We can “hope we make it in time,” “hope we pass the exam,” or “I certainly hope so…”  But the way I have been seeing it is not just as a wish, but as a virtue to be practiced.  It can push us through the hardest times, when maybe hope seems to disintegrate and decrease the possibilities in life.

                From my own experience, I have to push for hope, regarding my recovery from depression.  I am still set on that it would “certainly be nice if I could overcome this!”  And that is where I choose to hope, despite any lack of hope I might have.

                Brene Brown, an expert on the topics of vulnerability and shame, says in the midst of many examples in an article, that “Hope is a function of struggle.  People with the highest hopefulness have the knowledge that they can move through adversity.”  (https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2013/jul/27/brene-brown-people-sick-being-afraid)  This takes lots of courage, which is also a shift in the face of the vulnerability she speaks of.

                There are plenty of occasions where all I can do is hope despite all the feelings of hopelessness.  That is why it is so important to reflect on and have a plan to practice Hope.

 

Word for the Week!

                 Welcome in, September 2020!  Let us see how this month turns out. 

                The Word for the Week is Patience. Like I have said before, I do not choose these words because I am a pro.  This one in particular is something that I have had to keep on relearning.  We live in a fast-paced world of getting things now, now, now!  From a positive perspective on this, there are plenty of opportunities to practice Patience. 

                How can we take on this virtue and let go of our high expectations and demands?  Will our priorities change if we know how to cope, in this art of waiting a little longer? 

                Lord Jesus, thank You for the given times for practicing Patience.  Let me not only see these golden opportunities to practice it, but to also help me know how to endure it with a smile.

                Peace!

Word of the Week: Embrace

This week, I thought we could reflect on the word embrace.  We all have fears, joys, and everything in between.  What if we learned to observe and embrace these feelings, taking them on as part of the human experience?  

As I have mentioned before, I am practicing the Word for the Week too.  In this case, I know my first response to the negative is discouragement.  But what if I learned to accept and embrace both the hardships and good things in life?  They are filled with opportunities!  Let us learn to embrace them.

Word of the Week: Inspire

     Today’s word for the day is Inspire!  What keeps us going?  A motivational speech?  A word received from the wise?  I know, with me at least, it is good to keep inspiration up front.  This week may be a good time to notice the inspirations that drive us to our goals. 

     So be inspired!

Word for the Week

 Today's Word for the Week is Acceptance. Sure, it is easy to take on the things that go our way; but what about the more difficult things? Like the times we run behind schedule, or forget to buy something on our grocery list? We must always strive to do our best, but we must also remember that we are not perfect.

Please join me in reflecting and recognizing how we can accept the harder situations.

Present in Adoration

I have started making a habit of going to my parish’s adoration chapel after a day of volunteering.  Having gone so long without showing up, due to the virus, it helps me to unwind from the hustle of clerical work and serving clients at the Center.  What a difference it makes to say hello to Jesus!  Although we have to social distance even in this designated room, there is still that sense of awe and reverence. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ, present in the mystery of the Eucharist, waits for us.  And I believe that it is in these times of isolation, dread, and annoyance, that we need Him the most.  He wants to be there for us.  And we also need to be there for Him.  Sure, we cannot always gather as a community, but we can still raise our eyes to Heaven and make a spiritual communion.  Even better, we can receive Him during the celebration of the Mass! 

Thank You, Jesus, for being present among us.  Give us hearts of peace, rather than hardness, during these days of fear and isolation.  Show us how to be present to You, as You are present to us, in so many ways.  Amen! 

Live Jesus!